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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19860-8.txt b/19860-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a847353 --- /dev/null +++ b/19860-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9466 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Arabian Nights Entertainments, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Arabian Nights Entertainments + +Author: Anonymous + +Illustrator: Milo Winter + +Release Date: November 18, 2006 [EBook #19860] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: _The genie immediately returned with a tray bearing +dishes of the most delicious viands. Page 168._] + + + + + THE WINDERMERE SERIES + + + + The Arabian Nights + Entertainments + + + + WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY + + MILO WINTER + + + + + + RAND McNALLY & COMPANY + + CHICAGO NEW YORK + + + + + + _Copyright, 1914, by_ + + RAND McNALLY & COMPANY + + * * * * * + + + + +THE INTRODUCTION + + +The _Arabian Nights_ was introduced to Europe in a French translation +by Antoine Galland in 1704, and rapidly attained a unique popularity. +There are even accounts of the translator being roused from sleep by +bands of young men under his windows in Paris, importuning him to tell +them another story. + +The learned world at first refused to believe that M. Galland had not +invented the tales. But he had really discovered an Arabic manuscript +from sixteenth-century Egypt, and had consulted Oriental +story-tellers. In spite of inaccuracies and loss of color, his twelve +volumes long remained classic in France, and formed the basis of our +popular translations. + +A more accurate version, corrected from the Arabic, with a style +admirably direct, easy, and simple, was published by Dr. Jonathan +Scott in 1811. This is the text of the present edition. + +The Moslems delight in stories, but are generally ashamed to show a +literary interest in fiction. Hence the world's most delightful story +book has come to us with but scant indications of its origin. Critical +scholarship, however, has been able to reach fairly definite +conclusions. + +The reader will be interested to trace out for himself the +similarities in the adventures of the two Persian queens, +Schehera-zade, and Esther of Bible story, which M. de Goeje has +pointed out as indicating their original identity (_Encyclopædia +Britannica_, "Thousand and One Nights"). There are two or three +references in tenth-century Arabic literature to a Persian collection +of tales, called _The Thousand Nights_, by the fascination of which +the lady Schehera-zade kept winning one more day's lease of life. A +good many of the tales as we have them contain elements clearly +indicating Persian or Hindu origin. But most of the stories, even +those with scenes laid in Persia or India, are thoroughly Mohammedan +in thought, feeling, situation, and action. + +The favorite scene is "the glorious city," ninth-century Bagdad, whose +caliph, Haroun al Raschid, though a great king, and heir of still +mightier men, is known to fame chiefly by the favor of these tales. +But the contents (with due regard to the possibility of later +insertions), references in other writings, and the dialect show that +our _Arabian Nights_ took form in Egypt very soon after the year 1450. +The author, doubtless a professional teller of stories, was, like his +Schehera-zade, a person of extensive reading and faultless memory, +fluent of speech, and ready on occasion to drop into poetry. The +coarseness of the Arabic narrative, which does not appear in our +translation, is characteristic of Egyptian society under the Mameluke +sultans. It would have been tolerated by the subjects of the caliph in +old Bagdad no more than by modern Christians. + +More fascinating stories were never told. Though the oath of an +Oriental was of all things the most sacred, and though Schah-riar had +"bound himself by a solemn vow to marry a new wife every night, and +command her to be strangled in the morning," we well believe that he +forswore himself, and granted his bride a stay of execution until he +could find out why the ten polite young gentlemen, all blind of the +right eye, "having blackened themselves, wept and lamented, beating +their heads and breasts, and crying continually, 'This is the fruit of +our idleness and curiosity.'" To be sure, when the golden door has +been opened, and the black horse has vanished with that vicious switch +of his tail, we have a little feeling of having been "sold,"--a +feeling which great art never gives. But we are in the best of humor; +for were we not warned all along against just this foible of +curiosity, and is not the story-teller smiling inscrutably and +advising us to be thankful that we at least still have our two good +eyes? + +Beside the story interest, the life and movement of the tales, the +spirits that enter and set their own precedents, there is for us the +charm of mingling with men so different from ourselves: men +adventurous but never strenuous, men of many tribulations but no +perplexities. Fantastic, magnificent, extravagant, beautiful, +gloriously colored, humorous--was ever book of such infinite +contrasts? + + * * * * * + + + + +THE CONTENTS + + +THE SULTAN AND HIS VOW + +THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE + +THE THREE CALENDERS, SONS OF KINGS, AND THE FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD + +THE STORY OF THE THREE SISTERS + +THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP + +THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS KILLED BY ONE SLAVE + +THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + + + + +THE ILLUSTRATIONS + + +_The genie immediately returned with a tray bearing dishes of + the most delicious viands_ Frontispiece + +_He had the gift of understanding the language of beasts_ + +_He was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such + beauties_ + +_These ladies vied with each other in their eager solicitude to do me + all possible service_ + +_The gardener, with the rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket to + the side of the canal_ + +_He presently discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave + into the princess's hands_ + +_She drew the poniard, and, holding it in her hand, began a dance_ + +_Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, + I went on board with the two oars I had made_ + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + + + + +THE ARABIAN NIGHTS + +THE SULTAN AND HIS VOW + + +It is written in the chronicles of the Sassanian monarchs that there +once lived an illustrious prince, beloved by his own subjects for his +wisdom and his prudence, and feared by his enemies for his courage and +for the hardy and well-disciplined army of which he was the leader. +This prince had two sons, the elder called Schah-riar, and the younger +Schah-zenan, both equally good and deserving of praise. + +When the old king died at the end of a long and glorious reign, +Schah-riar, his eldest son, ascended the throne and reigned in his +stead. Schah-zenan, however, was not in the least envious, and a +friendly contest soon arose between the two brothers as to which could +best promote the happiness of the other. Schah-zenan did all he could +to show his loyalty and affection, while the new sultan loaded his +brother with all possible honors, and in order that he might in some +degree share the sultan's power and wealth, bestowed on him the +kingdom of Great Tartary. Schah-zenan immediately went to take +possession of the empire allotted him, and fixed his residence at +Samarcand, the chief city. + +After a separation of ten years Schah-riar so ardently desired to see +his brother, that he sent his first vizier,[1] with a splendid +embassy, to invite him to revisit his court. As soon as Schah-zenan +was informed of the approach of the vizier, he went out to meet him, +with all his ministers, in most magnificent dress, and inquired after +the health of the sultan, his brother. Having replied to these +affectionate inquiries, the vizier told the purpose of his coming. +Schah-zenan, who was much affected at the kindness and recollection of +his brother, then addressed the vizier in these words: "Sage vizier, +the sultan, my brother, does me too much honor. It is impossible that +his wish to see me can exceed my desire of again beholding him. You +have come at a happy moment. My kingdom is tranquil, and in ten days' +time I will be ready to depart with you. Meanwhile pitch your tents on +this spot, and I will order every refreshment and accommodation for +you and your whole train." + +[Footnote 1: Vazir, Vezir--literally, a porter, that is, the minister +who bears the principal burden of the state.--D'Herbelot, +_Bibliotheque Orientale._] + +At the end of ten days everything was ready, and Schah-zenan took a +tender leave of the queen, his consort. Accompanied by such officers +as he had appointed to attend him, he left Samarcand in the evening +and camped near the tents of his brother's ambassador, that they might +proceed on their journey early the following morning. Wishing, +however, once more to see his queen, whom he tenderly loved, he +returned privately to the palace, and went directly to her apartment. +There, to his extreme grief, he found her in the company of a slave +whom she plainly loved better than himself. Yielding to the first +outburst of his indignation, the unfortunate monarch drew his +scimitar, and with one rapid stroke slew them both. + +He then went from the city as privately as he had entered it, and +returned to his pavilion. Not a word did he say to any one of what +had happened. At dawn he ordered the tents to be struck, and the party +set forth on their journey to the sound of drums and other musical +instruments. The whole train was filled with joy, except the king, who +could think of nothing but his queen, and he was a prey to the deepest +grief and melancholy during the whole journey. + +When he approached the capital of Persia he perceived the Sultan +Schah-riar and all his court coming out to greet him. As soon as the +parties met the two brothers alighted and embraced each other; and +after a thousand expressions of regard, remounted and entered the city +amid the shouts of the multitude. The sultan there conducted the king +his brother to a palace which had been prepared for him. This palace +communicated by a garden with the sultan's own and was even more +magnificent, as it was the spot where all the fêtes and splendid +entertainments of the court were given. + +Schah-riar left the King of Tartary in order that he might bathe and +change his dress; but immediately on his return from the bath went to +him again. They seated themselves on a sofa, and conversed till supper +time. After so long a separation they seemed even more united by +affection than by blood. They ate supper together, and then continued +their conversation till Schah-riar, perceiving the night far advanced, +left his brother to repose. + +The unfortunate Schah-zenan retired to his couch; but if in the +presence of the sultan he had for a while forgotten his grief, it now +returned with doubled force. Every circumstance of the queen's death +arose to his mind and kept him awake, and left such a look of sorrow +on his face that next morning the sultan could not fail to notice it. +He did all in his power to show his continued love and affection, and +sought to amuse his brother with the most splendid entertainments, but +the gayest fêtes served only to increase Schah-zenan's melancholy. + +One morning when Schah-riar had given orders for a grand hunting party +at the distance of two days' journey from the city, Schah-zenan +requested permission to remain in his palace on account of a slight +illness. The sultan, wishing to please him, consented, but he himself +went with all his court to partake of the sport. + +The King of Tartary was no sooner alone than he shut himself up in his +apartment, and gave way to his sorrow. But as he sat thus grieving at +the open window, looking out upon the beautiful garden of the palace, +he suddenly saw the sultana, the beloved wife of his brother, meet a +man in the garden with whom she held an affectionate conversation. +Upon witnessing this interview, Schah-zenan determined that he would +no longer give way to such inconsolable grief for a misfortune which +came to other husbands as well as to himself. He ordered supper to be +brought, and ate with a better appetite than he had before done since +leaving Samarcand. He even enjoyed the fine concert performed while he +sat at table. + +Schah-riar returned from the hunt at the close of the second day, and +was delighted at the change which he soon found had taken place in his +brother. He urged him to explain the cause of his former depression +and of his present joy. The King of Tartary, feeling it his duty to +obey his suzerain lord, related the story of his wife's misconduct, +and of the severe punishment which he had visited on her. Schah-riar +expressed his full approval of his brother's conduct. + +"I own," he said, "had I been in your place I should have been less +easily satisfied. I should not have been contented to take away the +life of one woman, but should have sacrificed a thousand to my +resentment. Your fate, surely, is most singular. Since, however, it +has pleased God to afford you consolation, which, I am sure, is as +well founded as was your grief, inform me, I beg, of that also." + +Schah-zenan was very reluctant to relate what he had seen, but at last +yielded to the urgent commands and entreaties of his brother, and told +him of the faithlessness of his own queen. + +At this unexpected news, the rage and grief of Schah-riar knew no +bounds. He far exceeded his brother in his invectives and indignation. +Not only did he sentence to death his unhappy sultana but bound +himself by a solemn vow that, immediately on the departure of the king +his brother, he would marry a new wife every night, and command her to +be strangled in the morning. Schah-zenan soon after had a solemn +audience of leave, and returned to his own kingdom, laden with the +most magnificent presents. + +When Schah-zenan was gone the sultan began to carry out his unhappy +oath. Every night he married the daughter of some one of his subjects, +and the next morning she was ordered out and put to death. It was the +duty of the grand vizier to execute these commands of the sultan's, +and revolting as they were to him, he was obliged to submit or lose +his own head. The report of this unexampled inhumanity spread a panic +of consternation throughout the city. Instead of the praises and +blessings with which, until now, they had loaded their monarch, all +his subjects poured out curses on his head. + +The grand vizier had two daughters, the elder of whom was called +Schehera-zade, and the younger Dinar-zade. Schehera-zade was possessed +of a remarkable degree of courage. She had read much, and had so good +a memory that she never forgot anything she had once read or heard. +Her beauty was equaled only by her virtuous disposition. The vizier +was passionately fond of her. + +One day as they were talking together, she made the astonishing +request that she might have the honor of becoming the sultan's bride. +The grand vizier was horrified, and tried to dissuade her. He pointed +out the fearful penalty attached to the favor she sought. +Schehera-zade, however, persisted, telling her father she had in mind +a plan which she thought might put a stop to the sultan's dreadful +cruelty. + +"I am aware of the danger I run, my father," she said, "but it does +not deter me from my purpose. If I die, my death will be glorious; if +I succeed, I shall render my country an important service." + +Still the vizier was most reluctant to allow his beloved child to +enter on so dangerous an enterprise, and attempted to turn her from +her purpose by telling her the following story: + + +THE FABLE OF THE ASS, THE OX, AND THE LABORER + +A very rich merchant had several farmhouses in the country, where he +bred every kind of cattle. This merchant understood the language of +beasts. He obtained this privilege on the condition of not imparting +to any one what he heard, under penalty of death. + +By chance[2] he had put an ox and an ass into the same stall; and +being seated near them, he heard the ox say to the ass: "How happy do +I think your lot. A servant looks after you with great care, washes +you, feeds you with fine sifted barley, and gives you fresh and clean +water; your greatest task is to carry the merchant, our master. My +condition is as unfortunate as yours is pleasant. They yoke me to a +plow the whole day, while the laborer urges me on with his goad. The +weight and force of the plow, too, chafes all the skin from my neck. +When I have worked from morning till night, they give me unwholesome +and uninviting food. Have I not, then, reason to envy your lot?" + +[Footnote 2: The ass and the ox in the East were subject to very +different treatment; the one was strong to labor, and was little cared +for--the other was reserved for princes and judges to ride on, and was +tended with the utmost attention.] + +When he had finished, the ass replied in these words: "Believe me, +they would not treat you thus if you possessed as much courage as +strength. When they come to tie you to the manger, what resistance, +pray, do you ever make? Do you ever push them with your horns? Do you +ever show your anger by stamping on the ground with your feet? Why +don't you terrify them with your bellowing? Nature has given you the +means of making yourself respected, and yet you neglect to use them. +They bring you bad beans and chaff. Well, do not eat them; smell at +them only and leave them. Thus, if you follow my plans, you will soon +perceive a change, which you will thank me for." + +The ox took the advice of the ass very kindly, and declared himself +much obliged to him. + +Early the next morning the laborer came for the ox, and yoked him to +the plow, and set him to work as usual. The latter, who had not +forgotten the advice he had received, was very unruly the whole day; +and at night, when the laborer attempted to fasten him to the stall, +he ran bellowing back, and put down his horns to strike him; in short, +he did exactly as the ass had advised him. + +On the next morning, when the man came, he found the manger still full +of beans and chaff, and the ox lying on the ground with his legs +stretched out, and making a strange groaning. The laborer thought him +very ill, and that it would be useless to take him to work; he, +therefore, immediately went and informed the merchant. + +The latter perceived that the bad advice of the ass had been followed; +and he told the laborer to go and take the ass instead of the ox, and +not fail to give him plenty of exercise. The man obeyed; and the ass +was obliged to drag the plow the whole day, which tired him the more +because he was unaccustomed to it; besides which, he was so beaten +that he could scarcely support himself when he came back, and fell +down in his stall half dead. + + * * * * * + +Here the grand vizier said to Schehera-zade: "You are, my child, just +like this ass, and would expose yourself to destruction." + +"Sir," replied Schehera-zade, "the example which you have brought does +not alter my resolution, and I shall not cease importuning you till +I have obtained from you the favor of presenting me to the sultan as +his consort." + +[Illustration: _He had the gift of understanding the language of +beasts Page 15_] + +The vizier, finding her persistent in her request, said, "Well then, +since you will remain thus obstinate, I shall be obliged to treat you +as the rich merchant I mentioned did his wife." + +Being told in what a miserable state the ass was, he was curious to +know what passed between him and the ox. After supper, therefore, he +went out by moonlight, accompanied by his wife, and sat down near +them; on his arrival, he heard the ass say to the ox, "Tell me, +brother, what you mean to do when the laborer brings you food +to-morrow!" + +"Mean to do!" replied the ox. "Why, what you taught me, to be sure." + +"Take care," interrupted the ass, "what you are about, lest you +destroy yourself; for in coming home yesterday evening, I heard our +master say these sad words: 'Since the ox can neither eat nor support +himself, I wish him to be killed to-morrow; do not, therefore, fail to +send for the butcher.' This is what I heard; and the interest I take +in your safety, and the friendship I have for you, induces me to +mention it. When they bring you beans and chaff, get up, and begin +eating directly. Our master, by this, will suppose that you have +recovered, and will, without doubt, revoke the sentence for your +death; in my opinion, if you act otherwise, it is all over with you." + +This speech produced the intended effect; the ox was much troubled, +and lowed with fear. The merchant, who had listened to everything with +great attention, burst into a fit of laughter that quite surprised +his wife. + +"Tell me," said she, "what you laugh at, that I may join in it. I wish +to know the cause." + +"That satisfaction," replied the husband, "I cannot afford you. I can +only tell you that I laughed at what the ass said to the ox; the rest +is a secret, which I must not reveal." + +"And why not?" asked his wife. + +"Because, if I tell you, it will cost me my life." + +"You trifle with me," added she; "this can never be true; and if you +do not immediately inform me what you laughed at, I swear by Allah +that we will live together no longer." + +In saying this, she went back to the house in a pet, shut herself up, +and cried the whole night. Her husband, finding that she continued in +the same state all the next day, said, "How foolish it is to afflict +yourself in this way! Do I not seriously tell you, that if I were to +yield to your foolish importunities, it would cost me my life?" + +"Whatever happens rests with Allah," said she; "but I shall not alter +my mind." + +"I see very plainly," answered the merchant, "it it not possible to +make you submit to reason, and that your obstinacy will kill you." + +He then sent for the parents and other relations of his wife; when +they were all assembled, he explained to them his motives for calling +them together, and requested them to use all their influence with his +wife, and endeavor to convince her of the folly of her conduct. She +rejected them all, and said she had rather die than give up this +point to her husband. When her children saw that nothing could alter +her resolution, they began to lament most bitterly--the merchant +himself knew not what to do. + +A little while afterward he was sitting by chance at the door of his +house, considering whether he should not even sacrifice himself in +order to save his wife, whom he so tenderly loved, when he saw his +favorite dog run up to the cock in the farmyard, and tell him all the +circumstances of the painful situation in which he was placed. Upon +which the cock said, "How foolish must our master be. He has but one +wife, and cannot gain his point, while I have fifty, and do just as I +please. Let him take a good-sized stick, and not scruple to use it, +and she will soon know better, and not worry him to reveal what he +ought to keep secret." + +The merchant at once did as he suggested, on which his wife quickly +repented of her ill-timed curiosity, and all her family came in, +heartily glad at finding her more rational and submissive to her +husband. + + * * * * * + +"You deserve, my daughter," added the grand vizier, "to be treated +like the merchant's wife." + +"Do not, sir," answered Schehera-zade, "think ill of me if I still +persist in my sentiments. The history of this woman does not shake my +resolution. I could recount, on the other hand, many good reasons +which ought to persuade you not to oppose my design. Pardon me, too, +if I add that your opposition will be useless; for if your paternal +tenderness should refuse the request I make, I will present myself to +the sultan." + +At length the vizier, overcome by his daughter's firmness, yielded to +her entreaties; and although he was very sorry at not being able to +conquer her resolution, he immediately went to Schah-riar, and +announced to him that Schehera-zade herself would be his bride on the +following night. + +The sultan was much astonished at the sacrifice of the grand vizier. +"Is it possible," said he, "that you can give up your own child?" + +"Sire," replied the vizier, "she has herself made the offer. The +dreadful fate that hangs over her does not alarm her; and she resigns +her life for the honor of being the consort of your majesty, though it +be but for one night." + +"Vizier," said the sultan, "do not deceive yourself with any hopes; +for be assured that, in delivering Schehera-zade into your charge +to-morrow, it will be with an order for her death; and if you disobey, +your own head will be the forfeit." + +"Although," answered the vizier, "I am her father, I will answer for +the fidelity of this arm in fulfilling your commands." + +When the grand vizier returned to Schehera-zade, she thanked her +father; and observing him to be much afflicted, consoled him by saying +that she hoped he would be so far from repenting her marriage with the +sultan that it would become a subject of joy to him for the remainder +of his life. + +Before Schehera-zade went to the palace, she called her sister, +Dinar-zade, aside, and said, "As soon as I shall have presented myself +before the sultan, I shall entreat him to suffer you to sleep in the +bridal chamber, that I may enjoy for the last time your company. If I +obtain this favor, as I expect, remember to awaken me to-morrow +morning an hour before daybreak, and say, 'If you are not asleep, my +sister, I beg of you, till the morning appears, to recount to me one +of those delightful stories you know.' I will immediately begin to +tell one; and I flatter myself that by these means I shall free the +kingdom from the consternation in which it is." + +Dinar-zade promised to do with pleasure what she required. + +Within a short time Schehera-zade was conducted by her father to the +palace, and was admitted to the presence of the sultan. They were no +sooner alone than the sultan ordered her to take off her veil. He was +charmed with her beauty; but perceiving her tears, he demanded the +cause of them. + +"Sire," answered Schehera-zade, "I have a sister whom I tenderly +love--I earnestly wish that she might be permitted to pass the night +in this apartment, that we may again see each other, and once more +take a tender farewell. Will you allow me the consolation of giving +her this last proof of my affection?" + +Schah-riar having agreed to it, they sent for Dinar-zade, who came +directly. The sultan passed the night with Schehera-zade on an +elevated couch, as was the custom among the eastern monarchs, and +Dinar-zade slept at the foot of it on a mattress prepared for the +purpose. + +Dinar-zade, having awakened about an hour before day, did what her +sister had ordered her. "My dear sister," she said, "if you are not +asleep, I entreat you, as it will soon be light, to relate to me one +of those delightful tales you know. It will, alas, be the last time I +shall receive that pleasure." + +Instead of returning any answer to her sister, Schehera-zade addressed +these words to the sultan: "Will your majesty permit me to indulge my +sister in her request?" + +"Freely," replied he. + +Schehera-zade then desired her sister to attend, and, addressing +herself to the sultan, began as follows: + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE + + +There was formerly, sire, a merchant, who was possessed of great +wealth, in land, merchandise, and ready money. Having one day an +affair of great importance to settle at a considerable distance from +home, he mounted his horse, and with only a sort of cloak-bag behind +him, in which he had put a few biscuits and dates, he began his +journey. He arrived without any accident at the place of his +destination; and having finished his business, set out on his return. + +On the fourth day of his journey he felt himself so incommoded by the +heat of the sun that he turned out of his road, in order to rest under +some trees by which there was a fountain. He alighted, and tying his +horse to a branch of the tree, sat down on its bank to eat some +biscuits and dates from his little store. When he had satisfied his +hunger he amused himself with throwing about the stones of the fruit +with considerable velocity. When he had finished his frugal repast he +washed his hands, his face, and his feet, and repeated a prayer, like +a good Mussulman.[3] + +He was still on his knees, when he saw a genie,[4] white with age and +of an enormous stature, advancing toward him, with a scimitar in his +hand. As soon as he was close to him he said in a most terrible tone: +"Get up, that I may kill thee with this scimitar, as thou hast caused +the death of my son." He accompanied these words with a dreadful yell. + +[Footnote 3: Mussulman signifies resigned, or "conformed to the divine +will." The Arabic word is Moslemuna, in the singular, Moslem; which +the Mohammedans take as a title peculiar to themselves. The Europeans +generally write and pronounce it Mussulman.--Sale's _Koran_, c. ii, p. +16. 4to, 1734.] + +[Footnote 4: These tales are furnished throughout with a certain +imaginary machinery. They have, as their foundation, the perpetual +intervention of certain fantastic beings, in most cases superior to +man, but yet subordinate to the authority of certain favored +individuals. These beings may, for our purpose, be generally divided +into genies, whose interference is generally for evil; peris, whose +presence indicates favorable issues to those whom they befriend; and +ghouls, monsters which have a less direct control over man's affairs, +but represent any monster repugnant or loathsome to mankind.] + +The merchant, alarmed by the horrible figure of this giant, as well as +by the words he heard, replied in trembling accents: "How can I have +slain him? I do not know him, nor have I ever seen him." + +"Didst thou not," replied the giant, "on thine arrival here, sit down, +and take some dates from thy wallet; and after eating them, didst thou +not throw the stones about on all sides?" + +"This is all true," replied the merchant; "I do not deny it." + +"Well, then," said the other, "I tell thee thou hast killed my son; +for while thou wast throwing about the stones, my son passed by; one +of them struck him in the eye, and caused his death,[5] and thus hast +thou slain my son." + +[Footnote 5: "Now this, at first sight, seems a singular, if not a +ridiculous thing; but even this has its foundation in an Eastern +custom. It is in this manner that prisoners are sometimes put to +death; a man sits down at a little distance from the object he intends +to destroy, and then attacks him by repeatedly shooting at him with +the stone of the date, thrown from his two forefingers, and in this +way puts an end to his life."--Preface to Forster's edition of +_Arabian Nights._] + +"Ah, sire, forgive me," cried the merchant. + +"I have neither forgiveness nor mercy," replied the giant; "and is it +not just that he who has inflicted death should suffer it?" + +"I grant this; yet surely I have not done so: and even if I have, I +have done so innocently, and therefore I entreat you to pardon me, and +suffer me to live." + +"No, no," cried the genie, still persisting in his resolution, "I must +destroy thee, as thou hast killed my son." + +At these words, he took the merchant in his arms, and having thrown +him with his face on the ground, he lifted up his saber, in order to +strike off his head. + + * * * * * + +Schehera-zade, at this instant perceiving it was day, and knowing that +the sultan rose early to his prayers,[6] and then to hold a council, +broke off. + +[Footnote 6: "The Mohammedans divide their religion into two +parts--Imana, faith; and Din, practice. The first is the confession, +'There is no God but the true God, and Mohammed is his prophet.' Under +this are comprehended six distinct tenets,--1. Belief in God; 2. In +His anger; 3. In His scriptures; 4. In His prophets; 5. In the +resurrection and day of judgment; 6. God's absolute decree and +predetermination of all events, good or evil. The points of practice +are,--1. Prayer and purification; 2. Alms; 3. Fasting; 4. Pilgrimage +to Mecca."--Sale's _Preliminary Discourse_, p. 171.] + +"What a wonderful story," said Dinar-zade, "have you chosen!" + +"The conclusion," observed Schehera-zade, "is still more surprising, +as you would confess if the sultan would suffer me to live another +day, and in the morning permit me to continue the relation." + +Schah-riar, who had listened with much pleasure to the narration, +determined to wait till to-morrow, intending to order her execution +after she had finished her story. + +He arose, and having prayed, went to the council. + +The grand vizier, in the meantime, was in a state of cruel suspense. +Unable to sleep, he passed the night in lamenting the approaching fate +of his daughter, whose executioner he was compelled to be. Dreading, +therefore, in this melancholy situation, to meet the sultan, how +great was his surprise in seeing him enter the council chamber without +giving him the horrible order he expected! + +The sultan spent the day, as usual, in regulating the affairs of his +kingdom, and on the approach of night, retired with Schehera-zade to +his apartment.[7] + +[Footnote 7: In the original work, Schehera-zade continually breaks +off to ask the sultan to spare her life for another day, that she may +finish the story on which she is engaged, and he as regularly grants +her request. These interruptions are omitted as interfering with the +continued interest of the numerous stories told by the patriotic +Schehera-zade.] + +On the next morning, the sultan did not wait for Schehera-zade to ask +permission to continue her story, but said, "Finish the tale of the +genie and the merchant. I am curious to hear the end of it." +Schehera-zade immediately went on as follows: + +When the merchant, sire, perceived that the genie was about to execute +his purpose, he cried aloud: "One word more, I entreat you; have the +goodness to grant me a little delay; give me only one year to go and +take leave of my dear wife and children, and I promise to return to +this spot, and submit myself entirely to your pleasure." + +"Take Allah to witness of the promise thou hast made me," said the +other. + +"Again I swear," replied he, "and you may rely on my oath." + +On this the genie left him near the fountain, and immediately +disappeared. + +The merchant, on his reaching home, related faithfully all that had +happened to him. On hearing the sad news, his wife uttered the most +lamentable groans, tearing her hair and beating her breast; and his +children made the house resound with their grief. The father, +overcome by affection, mingled his tears with theirs. + +The year quickly passed. The good merchant having settled his affairs, +paid his just debts, given alms to the poor, and made provision to the +best of his ability for his wife and family, tore himself away amid +the most frantic expressions of grief; and mindful of his oath, he +arrived at the destined spot on the very day he had promised. + +While he was waiting for the arrival of the genie, there suddenly +appeared an old man leading a hind, who, after a respectful +salutation, inquired what brought him to that desert place. The +merchant satisfied the old man's curiosity, and related his adventure, +on which he expressed a wish to witness his interview with the genie. +He had scarcely finished his speech when another old man, accompanied +by two black dogs, came in sight, and having heard the tale of the +merchant, he also determined to remain to see the event. + +Soon they perceived, toward the plain, a thick vapor or smoke, like a +column of dust raised by the wind. This vapor approached them, and +then suddenly disappearing, they saw the genie, who, without noticing +the others, went toward the merchant, scimitar in hand. Taking him by +the arm, "Get up," said he, "that I may kill thee, as thou hast slain +my son." + +Both the merchant and the two old men, struck with terror, began to +weep and fill the air with their lamentations. + +When the old man who conducted the hind saw the genie lay hold of the +merchant, and about to murder him without mercy, he threw himself at +the monster's feet, and, kissing them, said, "Lord Genie, I humbly +entreat you to suspend your rage, and hear my history, and that of the +hind, which you see; and if you find it more wonderful and surprising +than the adventure of this merchant, whose life you wish to take, may +I not hope that you will at least grant me one half part the blood of +this unfortunate man?" + +After meditating some time, the genie answered, "Well then, I agree to +it." + + +THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST OLD MAN AND THE HIND + +The hind, whom you, Lord Genie, see here, is my wife. I married her +when she was twelve years old, and we lived together thirty years, +without having any children. At the end of that time I adopted into my +family a son, whom a slave had borne. This act of mine excited against +the mother and her child the hatred and jealousy of my wife. During my +absence on a journey she availed herself of her knowledge of magic to +change the slave and my adopted son into a cow and a calf, and sent +them to my farm to be fed and taken care of by the steward. + +Immediately on my return I inquired after my child and his mother. + +"Your slave is dead," said she, "and it is now more than two months +since I have beheld your son; nor do I know what has become of him." + +I was sensibly affected at the death of the slave; but as my son had +only disappeared, I flattered myself that he would soon be found. +Eight months, however, passed, and he did not return; nor could I +learn any tidings of him. In order to celebrate the festival of the +great Bairam,[8] which was approaching, I ordered my bailiff to bring +me the fattest cow I possessed, for a sacrifice. He obeyed my +commands. Having bound the cow, I was about to make the sacrifice, +when at the very instant she lowed most sorrowfully, and the tears +even fell from her eyes. This seemed to me so extraordinary that I +could not but feel compassion for her, and was unable to give the +fatal blow. I therefore ordered her to be taken away, and another +brought. + +[Footnote 8: Bairam, a Turkish word, signifies a feast day or holiday. +It commences on the close of the Ramadan--or the month's fast of the +Mohammedans. At this feast they kill a calf, goat, or sheep; and after +giving a part to the poor, eat the rest with their friends. It +commences with the new moon, and is supposed to be instituted in +memory of the sacrifice of his son by Abraham. The observance of the +lesser Bairam is confined to Mecca.] + +My wife, who was present, seemed very angry at my compassion, and +opposed my order. + +I then said to my steward, "Make the sacrifice yourself; the +lamentations and tears of the animal have overcome me." + +The steward was less compassionate, and sacrificed her. On taking off +the skin we found hardly anything but bones, though she appeared very +fat. + +"Take her away," said I to the steward, truly chagrined, "and if you +have a very fat calf, bring it in her place." + +He returned with a remarkably fine calf, who, as soon as he perceived +me, made so great an effort to come to me that he broke his cord. He +lay down at my feet, with his head on the ground, as if he endeavored +to excite my compassion, and to entreat me not to have the cruelty to +take away his life. + +"Wife," said I, "I will not sacrifice this calf, I wish to favor him. +Do not you, therefore, oppose it." + +She, however, did not agree to my proposal; and continued to demand +his sacrifice so obstinately that I was compelled to yield. I bound +the calf, and took the fatal knife to bury it in his throat, when he +turned his eyes, filled with tears, so persuasively upon me, that I +had no power to execute my intention. The knife fell from my hand, and +I told my wife I was determined to have another calf. She tried every +means to induce me to alter my mind; I continued firm, however, in my +resolution, in spite of all she could say; promising, for the sake of +appeasing her, to sacrifice this calf at the feast of Bairam on the +following year. + +The next morning my steward desired to speak with me in private. He +informed me that his daughter, who had some knowledge of magic, wished +to speak with me. On being admitted to my presence, she informed me +that during my absence my wife had turned the slave and my son into a +cow and calf, that I had already sacrificed the cow, but that she +could restore my son to life if I would give him to her for her +husband, and allow her to visit my wife with the punishment her +cruelty had deserved. To these proposals I gave my consent. + +The damsel then took a vessel full of water, and pronouncing over it +some words I did not understand, she threw the water over the calf, +and he instantly regained his own form. + +"My son! My son!" I exclaimed, and embraced him with transport. "This +damsel has destroyed the horrible charm with which you were +surrounded. I am sure your gratitude will induce you to marry her, as +I have already promised for you." + +He joyfully consented; but before they were united the damsel changed +my wife into this hind, which you see here. + +Since this, my son has become a widower, and is now traveling. Many +years have passed since I have heard anything of him. I have, +therefore, now set out with a view to gain some information; and as I +did not like to trust my wife to the care of any one during my search, +I thought proper to carry her along with me. This is the history of +myself and this hind. Can anything be more wonderful? + +"I agree with you," said the genie, "and in consequence, I grant to +you a half of the blood of this merchant." + +As soon as the first old man had finished, the second, who led the two +black dogs, made the same request to the genie for a half of the +merchant's blood, on the condition that his tale exceeded in interest +the one that had just been related. On the genie signifying his +assent, the old man began. + + +THE HISTORY OF THE SECOND OLD MAN AND THE TWO BLACK DOGS + +Great Prince of the genies, you must know that these two black dogs, +which you see here, and myself, are three brothers. Our father, when +he died, left us one thousand sequins each. With this sum we all +embarked in business as merchants. My two brothers determined to +travel, that they might trade in foreign parts. They were both +unfortunate, and returned at the end of two years in a state of abject +poverty, having lost their all. I had in the meanwhile prospered. I +gladly received them, and gave them one thousand sequins each, and +again set them up as merchants. + +My brothers frequently proposed to me that I should make a voyage with +them for the purpose of traffic. Knowing their former want of success, +I refused to join them, until at the end of five years I at length +yielded to their repeated solicitations. On consulting on the +merchandise to be bought for the voyage, I discovered that nothing +remained of the thousand sequins I had given to each. I did not +reproach them; on the contrary, as my capital was increased to six +thousand sequins, I gave them each one thousand sequins, and kept a +like sum myself, concealing the other three thousand in a corner of my +house, in order that if our voyage proved unsuccessful we might be +able to console ourselves and begin our former profession. + +We purchased our goods, embarked in a vessel, which we ourselves +freighted, and set sail with a favorable wind. After sailing about a +month, we arrived, without any accident, at a port, where we landed, +and had a most advantageous sale for our merchandise. I, in +particular, sold mine so well that I gained ten for one. + +About the time that we were ready to embark on our return, I +accidentally met on the seashore a female of great beauty, but very +poorly dressed. She accosted me by kissing my hand, and entreated me +most earnestly to permit her to be my wife. I stated many difficulties +to such a plan; but at length she said so much to persuade me that I +ought not to regard her poverty, and that I should be well satisfied +with her conduct, I was quite overcome. I directly procured proper +dresses for her, and after marrying her in due form, she embarked +with me, and we set sail. + +During our voyage I found my wife possessed of so many good qualities +that I loved her every day more and more. In the meantime my two +brothers, who had not traded so advantageously as myself, and who were +jealous of my prosperity, began to feel exceedingly envious. They even +went so far as to conspire against my life; for one night, while my +wife and I were asleep, they threw us into the sea. I had hardly, +however, fallen into the water, before my wife took me up and +transported me to an island. As soon as it was day she thus addressed +me: + +"You must know that I am a fairy, and being upon the shore when you +were about to sail, I wished to try the goodness of your heart, and +for this purpose I presented myself before you in the disguise you +saw. You acted most generously, and I am therefore delighted in +finding an occasion of showing my gratitude, and I trust, my husband, +that in saving your life I have not ill rewarded the good you have +done me. But I am enraged against your brothers, nor shall I be +satisfied till I have taken their lives." + +I listened with astonishment to the discourse of the fairy, and +thanked her, as well as I was able, for the great obligation she had +conferred on me. + +"But, madam," said I to her, "I must entreat you to pardon my +brothers." + +I related to her what I had done for each of them, but my account only +increased her anger. + +"I must instantly fly after these ungrateful wretches," cried she, +"and bring them to a just punishment; I will sink their vessel, and +precipitate them to the bottom of the sea." + +"No, beautiful lady," replied I, "for heaven's sake moderate your +indignation, and do not execute so dreadful an intention; remember, +they are still my brothers, and that we are bound to return good for +evil." + +No sooner had I pronounced these words, than I was transported in an +instant from the island, where we were, to the top of my own house. I +descended, opened the doors, and dug up the three thousand sequins +which I had hidden. I afterward repaired to my shop, opened it, and +received the congratulations of the merchants in the neighborhood on +my arrival. When I returned home I perceived these two black dogs, +which came toward me with a submissive air. I could not imagine what +this meant, but the fairy, who soon appeared, satisfied my curiosity. + +"My dear husband," said she, "be not surprised at seeing these two +dogs in your house; they are your brothers." + +My blood ran cold on hearing this, and I inquired by what power they +had been transformed into that state. + +"It is I," replied the fairy, "who have done it, and I have sunk their +ship; for the loss of the merchandise it contained I shall recompense +you. As to your brothers, I have condemned them to remain under this +form for ten years, as a punishment for their perfidy." + +Then informing me where I might hear of her, she disappeared. + +The ten years are now completed, and I am traveling in search of her. +This, O Lord Genie, is my history; does it not appear to you of a +most extraordinary nature? + +"Yes," replied the genie, "I confess it is most wonderful, and +therefore I grant you the other half of this merchant's blood," and +having said this, the genie disappeared, to the great joy of the +merchant and of the two old men. + +The merchant did not omit to bestow many thanks upon his liberators, +who, bidding him adieu, proceeded on their travels. He remounted his +horse, returned home to his wife and children, and spent the remainder +of his days with them in tranquillity. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE THREE CALENDERS, SONS OF KINGS, AND THE FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD + + +In the reign of Caliph Haroun al Raschid there was at Bagdad a porter, +who was a fellow of infinite wit and humor. One morning as he was at +the place where he usually waited for employment, with a great basket +before him, a handsome lady, covered with a great muslin veil, +accosted him, and said with a pleasant air, "Hark you, porter, take +your basket[9] and follow me." + +[Footnote 9: Baskets, panniers made of leaves of palm, used in +conveying fruits and bread, while heavier articles are carried in bags +of leather or skin.] + +The delighted porter took his basket immediately, set it on his head, +and followed the lady, exclaiming, "Oh, happy day! Oh, day of good +luck!" + +In a short time the lady stopped before a gate and knocked: a +Christian, with a venerable long white beard, opened it, and she put +money into his hand without speaking; but the Christian, who knew what +she wanted, went in, and shortly after brought out a large jar of +excellent wine. + +"Take this jar," said the lady to the porter, "and put it into the +basket." + +This being done, she desired him to follow her, and walked on; the +porter still exclaiming, "Oh, day of happiness! Oh, day of agreeable +surprise and joy!" + +The lady stopped at a fruit shop, where she bought some apples, +apricots, peaches, lemons, citrons, oranges, myrtles, sweet basil, +lilies, jassamine, and some other plants. She told the porter to put +all those things into his basket and follow her. Passing by a +butcher's shop, she ordered five and twenty pounds of his finest meat +to be weighed, which was also put into the porter's basket. + +At another shop she bought capers, small cucumbers, parsley, and other +herbs; at another, some pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, +kernels of the pine, and other similar fruits; at a third, she +purchased all sorts of almond patties. + +The porter, in putting all these things into his basket, said, "My +good lady, you should have told me that you intended buying so many +things, and I would have provided a camel to carry them, for if you +buy ever so little more, I shall not be able to bear it." + +The lady laughed at the fellow's pleasant humor, and ordered him still +to follow her. + +She then went to a druggist's, where she furnished herself with all +manner of sweet-scented waters, cloves, musk, pepper, ginger, and a +great piece of ambergris, and several other Indian spices; this quite +filled the porter's basket and she ordered him to follow her. They +walked till they came to a magnificent house, whose front was adorned +with fine columns, and had a gate of ivory. There they stopped, and +the lady knocked softly. Another lady soon came to open the gate, and +all three, after passing through a handsome vestibule, crossed a +spacious court, surrounded by an open gallery which communicated with +many magnificent apartments, all on the same floor. At the end of this +court there was a dais richly furnished, with a couch in the middle, +supported by four columns of ebony, enriched with diamonds and pearls +of an extraordinary size, and covered with red satin, relieved by a +bordering of Indian gold. In the middle of the court there was a large +basin lined with white marble, and full of the finest transparent +water, which rushed from the mouth of a lion of gilt bronze. + +But what principally attracted the attention of the porter, was a +third most beautiful lady, who was seated on the couch before +mentioned. This lady was called Zobeide, she who opened the door was +called Safie, and the name of the one who had been for the provisions +was Amina. Then said Zobeide, accosting the other two, "Sisters, do +you not see that this honest man is ready to sink under his burden? +Why do you not ease him of it?" + +Then Amina and Safie took the basket, the one before and the other +behind; Zobeide also assisted, and all three together set it on the +ground, and then emptied it. When they had done, the beautiful Amina +took out money and paid the porter liberally. + +The porter was well satisfied, but when he ought to have departed he +was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such +beauties, who appeared to him equally charming; for Amina, having now +laid aside her veil, proved to be as handsome as either of the others. +What surprised him most was that he saw no man about the house, yet +most of the provisions he had brought in, as the dry fruits and the +several sorts of cakes and confections, were adapted chiefly for those +who could drink and make merry. + +"Madam," said he, addressing Zobeide, "I am sensible that I act rudely +in staying longer than I ought, but I hope you will have the goodness +to pardon me, when I tell you that I am astonished not to see a man +with three ladies of such extraordinary beauty; and you know that a +company of women without men is as melancholy as a company of men +without women." + +To this he added some pleasantries in proof of what he advanced; and +did not forget the Bagdad proverb, "That the table is not completely +furnished, except there be four in company"; so concluded, that since +they were but three, they wanted another. + +The ladies fell a-laughing at the porter's reasoning; after which +Zobeide gravely addressed him, "Friend, you presume rather too much; +and though you do not deserve it, I have no objection to inform you +that we are three sisters, who transact our affairs with so much +secrecy that no one knows anything of them. A good author says, 'Keep +thy own secret, and do not reveal it to any one. He that maketh his +secret known is no longer its master. If thy own breast cannot keep +thy counsel, how canst thou expect the breast of another to be more +faithful?'" + +"Permit me, I entreat thee, to say, that I also have read in another a +maxim, which I have always happily practiced: 'Conceal thy secret,' he +says, 'only from such as are known to be indiscreet, and who will +abuse thy confidence; but make no difficulty in discovering it to +prudent men, because they know how to keep it.' The secret, then, with +me, is as safe as if locked up in a cabinet, the key of which is lost +and the door sealed." + +The porter, notwithstanding his rhetoric, must, in all probability, +have retired in confusion if Amina had not taken his part, and said to +Zobeide and Safie, "My dear sisters, I conjure you to let him remain; +he will afford us some diversion. Were I to repeat to you all the +amusing things he addressed to me by the way, you would not feel +surprised at my taking his part." + +At these words of Amina the porter fell on his knees, kissed the +ground at her feet, and raising himself up, said, "Most beautiful +lady, you began my good fortune to-day, and now you complete it by +this generous conduct. I cannot adequately express my acknowledgments. +As to the rest, ladies," said he, addressing himself to all the three +sisters, "since you do me so great an honor, I shall always look upon +myself as one of your most humble slaves." + +When he had spoken these words he would have returned the money he had +received, but Zobeide ordered him to keep it. + +"What we have once given," said she, "we never take back. We are +willing, too, to allow you to stay on one condition, that you keep +secret and do not ask the reason for anything you may see us do. To +show you," said Zobeide, with a serious countenance, "that what we +demand of you is not a new thing among us, read what is written over +our gate on the inside." + +The porter read these words, written in large characters of gold: "He +who speaks of things that do not concern him, shall hear things that +will not please him." + +"Ladies," said he, "I swear to you that you shall never hear me utter +a word respecting what does not relate to me, or wherein you may have +any concern." + +These preliminaries being settled, Amina brought in supper, and after +she had lighted up the room with tapers made of aloewood and +ambergris, which yield a most agreeable perfume as well as a delicate +light, she sat down with her sisters and the porter. They began +again to eat and drink, to sing, and repeat verses. The ladies +diverted themselves by intoxicating the porter, under pretext of +making him drink their healths, and the repast was enlivened by +reciprocal sallies of wit. When they were all as merry as possible, +they suddenly heard a knocking at the gate. + +[Illustration: _He was chained to the spot by the pleasure of +beholding three such beauties Page 38_] + +Safie, whose office it was, went to the porch, and quickly returning, +told them thus: "There are three calenders[10] at the door, all blind +of the right eye, and have their heads, beards, and eyebrows shaved. +They say that they are only just arrived at Bagdad, where they have +never been before; and, as it is dark, and they know not where to +lodge, they knocked at our door by chance and pray us to show +compassion, and to take them in. They care not where we put them, +provided they obtain shelter. They are young and handsome; but I +cannot, without laughing, think of their amusing and exact likeness to +each other. My dear sisters, pray permit them to come in; they will +afford us diversion enough, and put us to little charge, because they +desire shelter only for this night, and resolve to leave us as soon as +day appears." + +[Footnote 10: Calender, a sort of privileged beggar or fakir among the +Mohammedans, who wore a dress of sheepskin, with a leathern girdle +about his loins, and collected alms. A dervish is a poor man, who is +not bound by any vow of poverty to abstain from meat, and may +relinquish his profession at will.] + +"Go, then," said Zobeide, "and bring them in, but make them read what +is written over the gate." Safie ran out with joy, and in a little +time after returned with the three calenders. + +At their entrance they made a profound obeisance to the ladies, who +rose up to receive them and told them courteously that they were +welcome, that they were glad of the opportunity to oblige them and to +contribute toward relieving the fatigues of their journey, and at last +invited them to sit down with them. + +The magnificence of the place, and the civility they received, +inspired the calenders with high respect for the ladies; but before +they sat down, having by chance cast their eyes upon the porter, whom +they saw clad almost like those devotees with whom they have continual +disputes respecting several points of discipline, because they never +shave their beards nor eyebrows,[11] one of them said, "I believe we +have got here one of our revolted Arabian brethren." + +The porter, having his head warm with wine, took offense at these +words, and with a fierce look, without stirring from his place, +answered, "Sit you down, and do not meddle with what does not concern +you. Have you not read the inscription over the gate? Do not pretend +to make people live after your fashion, but follow ours." + +"Honest man," said the calender, "do not put yourself in a passion. We +should be sorry to give you the least occasion. On the contrary, we +are ready to receive your commands." Upon which, to put an end to the +dispute, the ladies interposed, and pacified them. When the calenders +were seated, the ladies served them with meat; and Safie, being highly +pleased with them, did not let them want for wine. + +[Footnote 11: This may probably be an allusion to the two great +divisions prevailing among the Mohammedans, the Soonnis and the +Shiites. The former upheld the legitimacy of the three first +successions of Mohammed; the latter maintained the right of his cousin +and son-in-law, Ali, and his descendants, called Fatemites or +Ismaelites. They both received the Koran, but the one added to it the +Sonna, or certain oral traditions attributed to Mohammed, which the +other rejected.] + +When the calenders had finished their repast, they signified to the +ladies that they wished to entertain them with a concert of music, if +they had any instruments in the house, and would cause them to be +brought. The ladies willingly accepted the proposal, and Safie went to +fetch the instruments. Each man took the instrument he liked, and all +three together began to play a tune. The ladies, who knew the words of +a merry song that suited the air, joined the concert with their +voices; but the words of the song made them now and then stop, and +fall into excessive laughter. While their amusement was at its height, +there was a knock of unwonted loudness at their gate. + +Now, it was the custom of the sultan Haroun al Raschid sometimes +during the night to go through the city in disguise, in order to +discover whether everything was quiet. On this evening he set out from +his palace accompanied by Giafar, his grand vizier, and Mesrour, chief +of the household, all three disguised as merchants. He it was, who, in +passing through the street, was attracted by the noise of the music +and of the peals of loud laughter, and had desired his grand vizier to +knock at the gate, and to demand shelter and admittance as for three +strangers who knew not where to seek shelter for the night. Safie, who +had opened the door, came back and obtained permission of her sisters +to admit the newly arrived strangers. + +The caliph and his attendants, upon their entrance, most courteously +made obeisance to the ladies and to the calenders. The ladies returned +their salutations, supposing them to be merchants. Zobeide, as the +chief, addressed them with a grave and serious countenance and said, +"You are welcome. But while you are here you must have eyes but no +tongues; you must not ask the reason of anything you may see, nor +speak of anything that does not concern you, lest you hear and see +what will by no means please you." + +"Madam," replied the vizier, "you shall be obeyed. It is enough for us +to attend to our own business, without meddling with what does not +concern us." After this, each seated himself, and the conversation +became general, and they drank to the health of the new guests. + +While the vizier Giafar entertained them, the caliph ceased not from +admiring the beauty, elegance, and lively disposition of the ladies; +while the appearance of the three calenders, all blind of the right +eye, surprised him very much. He anxiously wished to learn the cause +of this singularity, but the conditions they had imposed upon him and +his companions prevented any inquiry. Besides all this, when he +reflected upon the richness of the services and furniture, with the +regularity and arrangement everywhere apparent, he could hardly +persuade himself it was not the effect of enchantment. + +The guests continued their conversation, when, after an interval, +Zobeide rose up, and taking Amina by the hand, said to her, "Come, +sister, the company shall not prevent us from doing as we have always +been accustomed." + +Amina, who perfectly understood what her sister meant, got up, and +took away the dishes, tables, bottles, glasses, and also the +instruments on which the calenders had played. Nor did Safie remain +idle; she snuffed the candles, and added more aloewood and ambergris. +Having done this, she requested the three calenders to sit on a sofa +on one side, and the caliph and his company on the other. + +"Get up," said she then to the porter, looking at him, "and be ready +to assist in whatever we want of you." + +A little while after, Amina came in with a sort of seat, which she +placed in the middle of the room. She then went to the door of a +closet, and having opened it, she made a sign to the porter to +approach. + +"Come and assist me," she cried. He did so, and went in with her, and +returned a moment after, followed by two black dogs, each of them +secured by a collar and chain. They appeared as if they had been +severely whipped with rods, and he brought them into the middle of the +apartment. + +Zobeide, rising from her seat between the calenders and the caliph, +moved very gravely toward the porter. + +"Come," said she, heaving a deep sigh, "let us perform our duty." + +She then tucked up her sleeves above her elbows, and receiving a rod +from Safie, "Porter," said she, "deliver one of the dogs to my sister +Amina, and bring the other to me." + +The porter did as he was commanded. Upon this, the dog that he held in +his hand began to howl, and, turning toward Zobeide, held her head up +in a supplicating posture; but Zobeide, having no regard to the sad +countenance of the animal, which would have moved any one else to +pity, nor to its cries that resounded through the house, whipped her +with the rod till she was out of breath; and having spent her +strength, threw down the rod, and taking the chain from the porter, +lifted up the dog by her paws, and looking upon her with a sad and +pitiful countenance, they both wept. After this Zobeide, with her +handkerchief, wiped the tears from the dog's eyes, kissed her, +returned the chain to the porter, and desired him to carry the dog to +the place whence he took her, and to bring the other. Then taking the +whip, she served this in the same manner; she then wept with it, dried +its tears, kissed it, and returned it to the porter. + +The three calenders, with the caliph and his companions, were +extremely surprised at this exhibition, and could not comprehend why +Zobeide, after having so furiously beaten those two dogs, that by the +Mussulman religion are reckoned unclean[12] animals, should weep with +them, wipe off their tears, and kiss them. They muttered among +themselves; and the caliph, who, being more impatient than the rest, +longed exceedingly to be informed of the cause of so strange a +proceeding, could not forbear making signs to the vizier to ask the +question. The vizier turned his head another way; but being pressed by +repeated signs, he answered by others, that it was not yet time for +the caliph to satisfy his curiosity. + +[Footnote 12: The dog is in great disrepute among the Mohammedans. +Mohammed is reported to have said, "No angel enters where a dog is." +Cats, on the contrary, are great favorites, and sometimes accompany +their masters when they go to their mosque. The Mohammedans are under +certain restrictions in food; they are forbidden to eat the hare, +wolf, the cat, and all animals forbidden by the law of Moses. The +shrimp is forbidden among fish.--Bernard Picard.] + +Zobeide sat still some time in the middle of the room, where she had +whipped the two dogs, to recover herself of her fatigue; and Safie +called to her, "Dear sister, will you not be pleased to return to your +place, that I may also act my part?" + +"Yes, sister," replied Zobeide, and then went and sat down upon the +sofa, having the caliph, Giafar, and Mesrour on her right hand, and +the three calenders, with the porter, on her left. + +The whole company remained silent for some time. At last Safie, +sitting on a chair in the middle of the room, spoke to her sister +Amina: "Dear sister, I conjure you to rise; you know what I would +say." Amina rose, and went into another closet near to that where the +dogs were, and brought out a case covered with yellow satin, richly +embroidered with gold and green silk. She went toward Safie and opened +the case, from whence she took a lute, and presented it to her; and +after some time spent in tuning it, Safie began to play, and, +accompanying the instrument with her voice, sang a song about the +torments that absence creates to lovers. + +Having sung with much passion and action, she said to Amina, "Pray +take it, sister, for my voice fails me; oblige the company with a tune +and a song in my stead." + +"Very willingly," replied Amina, who, taking the lute from her sister +Safie, sat down in her place. Having sung most delightfully, the +caliph expressed his admiration. While he was doing so, Amina fainted +away; and on opening her robe to give her air, they discovered that +her breast was covered with fearful scars. + +While Zobeide and Safie ran to assist their sister, the caliph +inquired of the calender, "Cannot you inform me about these two black +dogs, and this lady, who appears to have been so ill-treated?" + +"Sir," said the calender, "we never were in this house before now, and +entered it only a few minutes sooner than you did." + +This increased the astonishment of the caliph. "Perhaps," said he, +"the man who is with you can give you some information?" + +The calender made signs to the porter to draw near, and asked him if +he knew why the black dogs had been beaten, and why the bosom of Amina +was so scarred. + +"Sir," replied the porter, "if you know nothing of the matter, I know +as little as you do. I never was in the house until now; and if you +are surprised to see me here, I am as much so to find myself in your +company." + +The caliph, more and more perplexed at all he heard, determined that +he would have the information he required for the explaining these +mysterious proceedings. But the question was, who should first make +the inquiry? The caliph endeavored to persuade the calenders to speak +first, but they excused themselves. At last they all agreed that the +porter should be the man. + +While they were consulting how to put the question, Zobeide herself, +as Amina had recovered from her fainting, approached them, and +inquired, "What are you talking of? What is your contest about?" + +The porter then addressed her as follows: "These gentlemen, madam, +entreat you to explain why you wept with those dogs, after having +treated them so ill, and how it has happened that the lady who fainted +has her bosom covered with scars." + +At these words Zobeide put on a stern look, and turning toward the +caliph and the rest of the company: "Is it true, gentlemen," said she, +"that you desired him to ask me these questions?" + +All of them, except the vizier Giafar, who spoke not a word, answered +"Yes." She thereupon exclaimed, in a tone of resentment: "Before we +granted you the favor of receiving you into our house, and to prevent +all occasion of inquiry from you, we imposed the condition that you +should not speak of anything that did not concern you, lest you might +hear that which would not please you; and yet, after having received +our entertainment, you make no scruple to break your promise. Our easy +compliance with your wishes may have occasioned this, but that shall +not excuse your rudeness." + +As she spoke these words, she gave three stamps with her foot, and +clapping[13] her hands as often together, cried, "Come quickly!" + +Upon this a door flew open, and seven black slaves[14] rushed in; each +one seized a man, threw him to the ground, and dragged him into the +middle of the room, brandishing a scimitar over his head. + +[Footnote 13: This is the ordinary mode in the East of calling the +attendants in waiting.] + +[Footnote 14: In this manner the apartments of ladies were constantly +guarded.--Beckford's _Vathek_, Notes to p. 204.] + +We can easily conceive the alarm of the caliph. He repented, but too +late, that he had not taken the advice of his vizier, who, with +Mesrour, the calenders, and porter, were, from his ill-timed +curiosity, on the point of forfeiting their lives. + +Before they gave the fatal stroke, one of the slaves said to Zobeide +and her sisters, "Would it not be right to interrogate them first?" On +which Zobeide, with a grave voice, said: "Answer me, and say who you +are, otherwise you shall not live one moment longer. I cannot believe +you to be honest men, or persons of authority or distinction in your +own countries; for, if you were, you would have been more modest and +more respectful to us." + +The caliph, naturally warm, was infinitely more indignant than the +rest, to find his life depending upon the command of a woman: but he +began to conceive some hopes, when he found she wished to know who +they all were; for he imagined that she would by no means take away +his life when she should be informed of his rank. He whispered to his +vizier, who was near him, instantly to declare who he was. But this +wise vizier, being more prudent, resolved to save his master's honor, +and not let the world know the affront he had brought upon himself by +his own imprudence; and therefore answered, "We have what we deserve." + +But if he had intended to speak as the caliph commanded him, Zobeide +would not have allowed him time: for having turned to the calenders, +and seeing them all blind with one eye, she asked if they were +brothers. + +One of them answered, "No, madam, no otherwise than as we are +calenders; that is to say, as we observe the same rules." + +"Were you born blind of the right eye?" continued she. + +"No, madam," answered he; "I lost my eye in such a surprising +adventure, that it would be instructive to every one to hear it." + +Zobeide put the same question to the others in their turn, when the +last she addressed replied, "Pray, madam, show some pity on us, for we +are all the sons of kings. Although we have never seen each other +before this evening, we have had sufficient time to become acquainted +with this circumstance; and I can assure you that the kings who have +given us birth have made some noise in the world!" During this speech +Zobeide became less angry, and said to the slaves, "Give them their +liberty a while, but remain where you are. Those who tell us their +history, and the occasion of their coming, do them not hurt, let them +go where they please; but do not spare those who refuse to give us +that satisfaction." + +The three calenders, the caliph, the grand vizier Giafar, the captain +of his guards, and the porter were all in the middle of the hall, +seated upon a carpet in the presence of the three ladies, who reclined +upon a sofa, and the slaves stood ready to do whatever their +mistresses should command. + +The porter spoke first, and briefly related the adventures of the +morning with Amina, and the kind favors to him of herself and her fair +sisters in the evening, which he declared to be the whole of his +history. + +When the porter had concluded, Zobeide said, "Save thyself and begone, +nor ever let us see thee again." + +"I beg of you, madam," replied he, "to let me remain a little longer. +It would be unfair that I should not hear their histories, after they +have had the pleasure of hearing mine." + +Saying this, he took his place at the end of the sofa, truly delighted +at finding himself free from the danger which so much alarmed him. + +One of the calenders, addressing himself to Zobeide, next spoke. + + +THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST CALENDER + +Madam, I am the son of a sultan. My father had a brother, who reigned +over a neighboring kingdom. His son, my cousin, and I were nearly of +the same age. I went regularly every year to see my uncle, at whose +court I amused myself for a month or two, and then returned home. + +On one occasion I arrived at my father's capital, where, contrary to +custom, I found a numerous guard at the gate of the palace. They +surrounded me as I entered. The commanding officer said, "Prince, the +army has proclaimed the grand vizier sultan, instead of your father, +who is dead, and I take you prisoner in the name of the new sultan." + +This rebel vizier had long entertained a mortal hatred toward me. When +I was a boy I loved to shoot with a crossbow. Being one day upon the +terrace of the palace, and a bird happening to come by, I shot but +missed him, and the ball by misfortune hit the vizier, who was taking +the air upon the terrace of his own house, and put out one of his +eyes. He never forgave me, and, as opportunity offered, made me +sensible of his resentment. But now that he had me in his power he +came to me like a madman, and thrusting his finger into my right eye, +pulled it out, and thus I became blind of one eye. + +His cruelty did not stop here; he commanded the executioner to cut off +my head, and leave me to be devoured by birds of prey. The executioner +conveyed me to the place of execution to complete this barbarous +sentence, but by my prayers and tears, I moved the man's compassion: +"Go," said he to me, "get you speedily out of the kingdom, and never +return, or you will destroy yourself and me." + +I thanked him, and as soon as I was left alone, comforted myself for +the loss of my eye by considering that I had very narrowly escaped a +much greater evil. + +Being thus surrounded with sorrows and persecuted by fortune, I had +recourse to a stratagem, which was the only means left me to save my +life: I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and putting on a +calender's habit, I passed, unknown by any, out of the city. I avoided +the towns till I arrived in the empire of the commander of the +faithful, the renowned caliph Haroun al Raschid, when I ceased to +fear. I resolved to come to Bagdad and throw myself at the feet of +this great monarch. I shall move him to compassion, said I to myself, +by the relation of my uncommon misfortunes, and without doubt he will +take pity on a persecuted prince, and not suffer me to implore his +assistance in vain. + +In short, after a journey of several months, I arrived to-day at the +gate of this city, into which I entered at dusk: and as I entered, +another calender came up. He saluted me, and I him. + +"You appear," said I, "to be a stranger, as I am." + +"You are not mistaken," replied he. + +He had no sooner returned this answer, than a third calender overtook +us. He saluted us, and told us he was a stranger newly come to Bagdad; +so that as brethren we joined together, resolving not to separate from +one another. + +It was now late, and we knew not where to seek a lodging in the city, +where we had never been before. But good fortune having brought us to +your gate, we made bold to knock, when you received us with so much +kindness that we are incapable of rendering suitable thanks. This, +madam, is, in obedience to your commands, the account I was to give +how I lost my right eye, wherefore my beard and eyebrows are shaved, +and how I came to be with you at this time. + + * * * * * + +"It is enough," said Zobeide; "you may retire to what place you think +fit." + +The calender begged the ladies' permission to stay till he had heard +the relations of his two comrades, "whom I cannot," said he, "leave +with honor"; and that he might also hear those of the three other +persons in company. + +The history of the first calender appeared very surprising to the +whole company, and particularly to the caliph. The presence of the +slaves, armed with their scimitars, did not prevent him from saying in +a whisper to the vizier, "As long as I can remember, I never heard +anything to compare with this history of the calender, though I have +been all my life in the habit of hearing similar narratives." + +He had no sooner finished than the second calender began, and +addressing himself to Zobeide, spoke as follows: + + +THE HISTORY OF THE SECOND CALENDER + +Madam, to obey your commands, and to show you by what strange accident +I became blind of the right eye, I must give you the account of my +life. I was yet a youth when the sultan, my father (for you must know +I am a prince by birth), perceived that I was endowed with good +natural ability, and spared nothing proper for improving it. No sooner +was I able to read and write than I learned the Koran from beginning +to end by heart, all the traditions collected from the mouth of our +prophet, and the works of poets. I applied myself to geography, +chronology, and to speak the Arabian language in its purity; not +forgetting in the meantime all such exercises as were proper for a +prince to understand. But one thing which I was fond of, and succeeded +in, was penmanship. In this I surpassed all the celebrated scribes of +our kingdom. + +The fame of my learning reached the Emperor of Hindustan, who sent an +embassy with rich presents to my father and invited me to his court. I +returned with the ambassador. + +We had been about a month on our journey when we saw in the distance +an immense cloud of dust, and soon after we discovered fifty fierce +horsemen, sons of the desert, well armed. + +Not being able to repel force by force, we told them we were the +ambassadors of the sultan of India; but the sons of the desert +insolently answered, "Why do you wish us to respect the sultan, your +master? We are not his subjects, nor even within his realm." They +attacked us on all sides. + +I defended myself as long as I could, but finding that I was wounded, +and that the ambassador and all our attendants were overthrown, I took +advantage of the remaining strength of my horse, and escaped. My horse +was wounded and suddenly fell dead under me. Alone, wounded, and a +stranger, I bound up my own wound and walked on the rest of the day, +and arrived at the foot of a mountain, where I perceived, as the sun +set, a cave; I went in, and stayed there that night, after I had +eaten some fruits that I gathered by the way. I continued my journey +for several successive days without finding any place of abode; but +after a month's time I came to a large town, well inhabited. It was +surrounded by several streams, so that it seemed to enjoy perpetual +spring. + +My face, hands, and feet were black and sunburnt; and by my long +journey, my boots were quite worn out, so that I was forced to walk +barefooted; and my clothes were all in rags. I entered the town to +inform myself where I was, and addressed myself to a tailor that was +at work in his shop. He made me sit down by him, and asked me who I +was, from whence I came, and what had brought me thither. I did not +conceal anything that had befallen me, nor made I any scruple to +reveal to him my rank. The tailor listened to me with attention; then +he brought me something to eat, and offered me an apartment at his +house, which I accepted. + +Some days after my arrival the tailor asked me if I knew anything by +which I could acquire a livelihood. I told him that I was well versed +in the science of laws, both human and divine; that I was a +grammarian, a poet, and, above all, that I wrote remarkably well. + +"None of these things will avail you here. If you will follow my +advice," he added, "you will procure a short jacket, and as you are +strong and in good health, you may go into the neighboring forest and +cut wood for fuel. You may then go and expose it for sale in the +market. By these means you will be enabled to wait till the cloud +which hangs over you, and obliges you to conceal your birth, shall +have blown over. I will furnish you with a cord and hatchet." + +The next day the tailor brought me a rope, a hatchet, and a short +jacket, and recommended me to some poor people who gained their bread +after the same manner, that they might take me into their company. +They conducted me to the wood, and the first day I brought in as much +upon my head as procured me half a piece of gold of the money of that +country; for though the wood was not far distant from the town, yet it +was very scarce, by reason that few would be at the trouble of +fetching it for themselves. I gained a good sum of money in a short +time, and repaid my tailor what he had loaned me. + +I continued this way of living for a whole year. One day, having by +chance penetrated farther into the wood than usual, I happened to +light on a pleasant spot, where I began to cut. In pulling up the root +of a tree I espied an iron ring, fastened to a trap door of the same +metal. I took away the earth that covered it, and having lifted it up, +discovered a flight of stairs, which I descended with my ax in my +hand. + +When I had reached the bottom I found myself in a palace, which was as +well lighted as if it had been above ground in the open air. I was +going forward along a gallery supported by pillars of jasper, the base +and capitals being of massy gold, when I saw a lady of a noble and +graceful air, and extremely beautiful, coming toward me. + +I hastened to meet her; and as I was making a low obeisance she asked +me, "Are you a man, or a genie?" + +"A man, madam," said I. + +"By what adventure," said she, fetching a deep sigh, "are you come +hither? I have lived here for twenty-five years, and you are the +first man I have beheld in that time." + +Her great beauty, and the sweetness and civility wherewith she +received me, emboldened me to say, "Madam, before I satisfy your +curiosity, give me leave to say that I am infinitely gratified with +this unexpected meeting, which offers me an occasion of consolation in +the midst of my affliction; and perhaps it may give me an opportunity +of making you also more happy than you are." + +I then related my story to her from beginning to end. + +"Alas! prince," she replied, sighing, "the most enchanting spots +cannot afford delight when we are there against our will. But hear now +my history. I am a princess, the daughter of a sultan, the king of the +Ebony Island, to which the precious wood found in it has given its +name. + +"The king, my father, had chosen for my husband a prince, who was my +cousin; but on the very night of the bridal festivities, in the midst +of the rejoicings of the court, a genie took me away. I fainted with +alarm, and when I recovered I found myself in this place. I was long +inconsolable; but time and necessity have reconciled me to see the +genie. Twenty-five years I have passed in this place, in which I have +everything necessary for life and splendor. + +"Every ten days," continued the princess, "the genie visits me. In the +meantime, if I have any occasion for him, I have only to touch a +talisman, and he appears. It is now four days since he was here, and I +have therefore to wait six days more before he again makes his +appearance. You, therefore, may remain five with me, if it be +agreeable to you, in order to keep me company; and I will endeavor to +regale and entertain you equal to your merit and dignity." + +The princess then conducted me to a bath, the most commodious, and the +most sumptuous imaginable; and when I came forth, instead of my own +clothes I found a costly robe, which I did not esteem so much for its +richness as because it made me appear worthy to be in her company. We +sat down on a sofa covered with rich tapestry, with cushions of the +rarest Indian brocade; and some time after she covered a table with +several dishes of delicate meats. We ate, and passed the remaining +part of the day, as also the evening, together very pleasantly. + +The next day I said to her, "Fair princess, you have been too long +buried alive in this subterranean palace; pray rise--follow me and +enjoy the light of day, of which you have been deprived so many +years." + +"Prince," replied she, with a smile, "if you out of ten days will +grant me nine, and resign the tenth to the genie, the light of day +would be nothing to me." + +"Princess," said I, "the fear of the genie makes you speak thus. For +my part, I regard him so little that I will break in pieces his +talisman, with the spell that is written about it. Let him come; and +how brave or powerful he be, I will defy him." On saying this I gave +the talisman a kick with my foot, and broke it in pieces. + +The talisman was no sooner broken than the whole palace shook as if +ready to fall to atoms, and the walls opened to afford a passage to +the genie. I had no sooner felt the shock than, at the earnest +request of the princess, I took to flight. Having hastily put on my +own robe, I ascended the stairs leading to the forest, and reached the +town in safety. My landlord, the tailor, was very glad to see me. + +In my haste, however, I had left my hatchet and cord in the princess's +chamber. + +Shortly after my return, while brooding over this loss and lamenting +the cruel treatment to which the princess would be exposed, the tailor +came in and said, "An old man, whom I do not know, brings your hatchet +and cords, and wishes to speak to you, for he will deliver them to +none but yourself." + +At these words I changed color, and fell a-trembling. While the tailor +was asking me the reason, my chamber door opened, and the old man, +having no patience to stay, appeared with my hatchet and cords. + +"I am a genie," said he, speaking to me, "a grandson of Eblis,[15] +prince of genies. Is not this your hatchet and are not these your +cords?" + +[Footnote 15: Eblis, or Degial, the evil spirit, who, according to the +Koran, betrayed Adam to transgression, and yet seeks to inflict injury +on his race.] + +After the genie had put these questions to me he gave me no time to +answer. He grasped me by the middle, dragged me out of the chamber, +and mounting into the air carried me up to the skies with +extraordinary swiftness. He descended again in like manner to the +earth, which on a sudden he caused to open with a stroke of his foot, +when I found myself in the enchanted palace, before the fair princess +of the Isle of Ebony. But, alas! what a spectacle was there! I saw +what pierced me to the heart; this poor princess was weltering in her +blood, and lay upon the ground, more like one dead than alive, with +her cheeks bathed in tears. + +The genie, having loaded us both with many insults and reproaches, +drew his scimitar and declared that he would give life and liberty to +either of us who would with his scimitar cut off the head of the +other. We both resolutely declined to purchase freedom at such a +price, and asserted our choice to be to die rather in the presence of +each other. + +"I see," said the genie, "that you both outbrave me, but both of you +shall know by my treatment of you of what I am capable." + +At these words the monster took up the scimitar and cut off one of her +hands, which left her only so much life as to give me a token with the +other that she bade me forever adieu; and then she died. + +I fainted at the sight. + +When I was come to myself again, I cried, "Strike, for I am ready to +die, and await death as the greatest favor you can show me." + +But instead of killing me, he said, "Behold how genies revenge +themselves on those who offend them. Thou art the least to blame, and +I will content myself with transforming thee into a dog, ape, lion, or +bird; take thy choice of any of these. I will leave it to thyself." + +These words gave me some hopes of being able to appease him. + +"O genie," said I, "restrain your rage, and since you will not take +away my life, pardon me freely, as a good dervish pardoned one who +envied him." + +"And how was that?" said he. + +I answered as follows: + + +THE HISTORY OF THE ENVIOUS MAN AND OF HIM WHO WAS ENVIED + +In a certain town there were two men, neighbors, who lived next door +to each other. One of them was so excessively envious of the other +that the latter resolved to change his abode and go and reside at some +distance from him. He therefore sold his house, and went to another +city at no great distance, and bought a convenient house. It had a +good garden and a moderate court, in which there was a deep well that +was not now used. + +The good man, having made this purchase, put on the habit of a +dervish, and in a short time he established a numerous society of +dervishes.[16] He soon came to be known by his virtues, through which +he acquired the esteem of many people, as well of the commonalty as of +the chief of the city. In short, he was much honored and courted by +all ranks. People came from afar to recommend themselves to his +prayers; and all who visited him, published what blessings they +received through his means. + +[Footnote 16: Sir Paul Ricaut gives this account of the dress of the +dervish. "Their shirts are of coarse linen, with a white plaid or +mantle about their shoulders. Their caps are like the crown of a hat +of the largest size. Their legs are always bare, and their breasts +open, which some of them burn or scar in token of greater devotion. +They wear a leathern girdle, with some shining stone upon the buckle +before. They always carry a string of beads, which they call Tesbe, +and oftener run them over than our friars do their rosary, at every +bead repeating the name of God."--_History of Ottoman Empire_, p. 263. + +"Their order has few rules, except of performing their fantastic rites +every Tuesday and Friday. They meet in a large hall, where they all +stand with their eyes fixed on the ground, and their arms crossed, +while the imaun or preacher reads part of the Koran from a pulpit, and +after a short exposition on what he has read, they stand around their +superior, and tying their robe, which is very wide, round their waist, +begin to turn round with an amazing swiftness, moving fast or slow as +the music is played. This lasts above an hour, without any of them +showing the least appearance of giddiness, which is not to be wondered +at when it is considered they are used to it from their infancy. There +were among them some little dervishes, of six or seven years old, who +seemed no more disordered by that exercise than the others. At the end +of the ceremony they shout out, 'There is no other god but God, and +Mohammed is his prophet'; after which they kiss the superior's hand +and retire. The whole is performed with the most solemn gravity." Lady +M. W. Montague's _Letters_, vol. ii, p. 43.] + +The great reputation of this honest man having spread to the town from +whence he had come, it touched the envious man so much to the quick +that he left his own house and affairs with a resolution to ruin him. +With this intent he went to the new convent of dervishes, of which his +former neighbor was the head, who received him with all imaginable +tokens of friendship. The envious man told him that he was come to +communicate a business of importance, which he could not do but in +private; "and that nobody may hear us," he said, "let us take a walk +in your court; and seeing night begins to draw on, command your +dervishes to retire to their cells." The chief of the dervishes did as +he was requested. + +When the envious man saw that he was alone with this good man, he +began to tell him his errand, walking side by side in the court, till +he saw his opportunity; and getting the good man near the brink of the +well, he gave him a thrust, and pushed him into it. + +This old well was inhabited by peris[17] and genies, which happened +luckily for the relief of the head of the convent; for they received +and supported him, and carried him to the bottom, so that he got no +hurt. He perceived that there was something extraordinary in his fall, +which must otherwise have cost him his life; but he neither saw nor +felt anything. + +[Footnote 17: The word peri, in the Persian language, signifies that +beautiful race of creatures which constitutes the link between angels +and men.] + +He soon heard a voice, however, which said, "Do you know what honest +man this is, to whom we have done this service?" + +Another voice answered, "No." To which the first replied, "Then I +will tell you. This man, out of charity, left the town he lived in, +and has established himself in this place, in hopes to cure one of his +neighbors of the envy he had conceived against him; he had acquired +such a general esteem that the envious man, not able to endure it, +came hither on purpose to ruin him; and he would have accomplished his +design had it not been for the assistance we have given this honest +man, whose reputation is so great that the sultan, who keeps his +residence in the neighboring city, was to pay him a visit to-morrow, +to recommend the princess his daughter to his prayers." + +Another voice asked, "What need had the princess of the dervish's +prayers?" To which the first answered, "You do not know, it seems, +that she is possessed by a genie. But I well know how this good +dervish may cure her. He has a black cat in his convent, with a white +spot at the end of her tail, about the bigness of a small piece of +Arabian money; let him only pull seven hairs out of the white spot, +burn them, and smoke the princess's head with the fumes. She will not +only be immediately cured, but be so safely delivered from the genie +that he will never dare approach her again." + +The head of the dervishes remembered every word of the conversation +between the fairies and the genies, who remained silent the remainder +of the night. The next morning, as soon as daylight appeared, and he +could discern the nature of his situation, the well being broken down +in several places, he saw a hole, by which he crept out with ease. + +The other dervishes, who had been seeking for him, were rejoiced to +see him. He gave them a brief account of the wickedness of the man to +whom he had given so kind a reception the day before, and retired into +his cell. Shortly after, the black cat, which the fairies and genies +had mentioned the night before, came to fawn upon her master, as she +was accustomed to do; he took her up, and pulled seven hairs from the +white spot that was upon her tail, and laid them aside for his use +when occasion should serve. + +Soon after sunrise the sultan, who would leave no means untried that +he thought likely to restore the princess to perfect health, arrived +at the gate of the convent. He commanded his guards to halt, while he +with his principal officers went in. The dervishes received him with +profound respect. + +The sultan called their chief aside, and said, "Good Sheik,[18] you +may probably be already acquainted with the cause of my visit." + +[Footnote 18: Sheiks are the chiefs of the societies of dervishes; +cadis, the magistrate of a town or city.--Notes on Vathek, p. 322.] + +"Yes, sir," replied he gravely, "if I do not mistake, it is the +disease of the princess which procures me this unmerited honor." + +"That is the real case," replied the sultan. "You will give me new +life if your prayers, as I hope they may, restore my daughter's +health." + +"Sir," said the good man, "if your majesty will be pleased to let her +come hither, I am in hopes, through God's assistance, that she will be +effectually cured." + +The prince, transported with joy, sent immediately for his daughter, +who soon appeared with a numerous train of ladies and attendants, +veiled, so that her face was not seen. The chief of the dervishes +caused a carpet to be held over her head, and he had no sooner thrown +the seven hairs upon the burning coals than the genie uttered a great +cry and, without being seen, left the princess at liberty; upon which +she took the veil from her face, and rose up to see where she was, +saying, "Where am I, and who brought me hither?" + +At these words, the sultan, overcome with excess of joy, embraced his +daughter and kissed her eyes; he also kissed the sheik's hands, and +said to his officers, "What reward does he deserve that has thus cured +my daughter?" + +They all cried, "He deserves her in marriage." + +"That is what I had in my thoughts," said the sultan; "and I make him +my son-in-law from this moment." + +Some time after, the prime vizier died, and the sultan conferred the +office on the dervish. Then the sultan himself died, without heirs +male; upon which the religious orders and the army consulted together, +and the good man was declared and acknowledged sultan by general +consent. + +The honest dervish ascended the throne of his father-in-law. One day +as he was in the midst of his courtiers on a march, he espied the +envious man among the crowd that stood as he passed along. Calling one +of the viziers that attended him, he whispered in his ear, "Go bring +me that man you see there; but take care you do not frighten him." + +The vizier obeyed, and when the envious man was brought into his +presence the sultan said, "Friend, I am extremely glad to see you." + +Then he called an officer. "Go immediately," said he, "and cause to be +paid to this man out of my treasury,[19] one hundred pieces of gold. +Let him have also twenty loads of the richest merchandise in my +storehouses, and a sufficient guard to conduct him to his house." + +[Footnote 19: A favorite story is related of the benevolence of one of +the sons of Ali. In serving at table, a slave had inadvertently +dropped a dish of scalding broth on his master. The heedless wretch +fell prostrate to deprecate his punishment, and repeated a verse of +the Koran: "Paradise is for those who command their anger." "I am not +angry." "And for those who pardon offenses." "I pardon your offense." +"And for those who return good for evil." "I give you your liberty, +and four hundred pieces of silver."--Gibbon's _Decline and Fall._] + +After he had given this charge to the officer he bade the envious man +farewell, and proceeded on his march. + + * * * * * + +When I had finished the recital of this story to the genie I employed +all my eloquence to persuade him to imitate so good an example, and to +grant me pardon; but it was impossible to move his compassion. + +"All that I can do for thee," said he, "is to grant thee thy life, but +I must place thee under enchantments." So saying, he seized me +violently, and carried me through the arched roof of the subterranean +palace, which opened to give him passage. He ascended with me into the +air to such a height that the earth appeared like a little white +cloud. He then descended again like lightning, and alighted upon the +summit of a mountain. + +Here he took up a handful of earth, and, muttering some words which I +did not understand, threw it upon me. "Quit," said he, "the form of a +man, and take that of an ape." + +He instantly disappeared, and left me alone, transformed into an ape, +and overwhelmed with sorrow, in a strange country, not knowing whether +I was near or far from my father's dominions. + +I descended the mountain, and entered a plain, level country, which +took me a month to travel over, and then I came to the seaside. It +happened at the time to be perfectly calm, and I espied a vessel +about half a league from the shore. Unwilling to lose so good an +opportunity, I broke off a large branch from a tree, carried it into +the sea, and placed myself astride upon it, with a stick in each hand, +to serve me for oars. + +I launched out on this frail bark, and rowed toward the ship. When I +had approached sufficiently near to be seen, the seamen and passengers +on the deck regarded me with astonishment. In the meantime I got on +board, and laying hold of a rope, jumped upon the deck, but having +lost my speech, I found myself in great perplexity. And indeed the +risk I ran was not less than when I was at the mercy of the genie. + +The merchants, being both superstitious and scrupulous, thought if +they received me on board I should be the occasion of some misfortune +to them during their voyage. On this account they said, "Let us throw +him into the sea." Some one of them would not have failed to carry +this threat into execution had I not gone to the captain, thrown +myself at his feet, and taken hold of his skirt in a supplicating +posture. This action, together with the tears which he saw gush from +my eyes, moved his compassion. He took me under his protection, and +loaded me with a thousand caresses. On my part, though I had not power +to speak, I showed by my gestures every mark of gratitude in my power. + +The wind that succeeded the calm continued to blow in the same +direction for fifty days, and brought us safe to the port of a city, +well peopled, and of great trade, where we cast anchor. + +Our vessel was instantly surrounded with multitudes of boats full of +people. Among the rest, some officers of the sultan came on board, +and said "Our master rejoices in your safe arrival, and he beseeches +each of you to write a few lines upon this roll. The prime vizier, +who, besides possessing great abilities for the management of public +affairs, could write in the highest perfection, died a few days since, +and the sultan has made a solemn vow not to give the place to any one +who cannot write equally well. No one in the empire has been judged +worthy to supply the vizier's place." + +Those of the merchants who thought they could write well enough to +aspire to this high dignity wrote one after another what they thought +fit. After they had done, I advanced, and took the roll, but all the +people cried out that I would tear it or throw it into the sea, till +they saw how properly I held the roll, and made a sign that I would +write in my turn. Their apprehensions then changed into wonder. +However, as they had never seen an ape that could write, and could not +be persuaded that I was more ingenious than others of my kind, they +wished to take the roll out of my hand; but the captain took my part +once more. + +"Let him alone," said he; "allow him to write." + +Perceiving that no one opposed my design, I took the pen, and wrote +six sorts of hands used among the Arabians, and each specimen +contained an extemporary distich or quatrain (a stanza of four lines) +in praise of the sultan. When I had done, the officers took the roll, +and carried it to the sultan. + +The sultan took little notice of any of the writings except mine, +which pleased him so much that he said to the officers, "Take the +finest horse in my stable, with the richest trappings, and a robe of +the most sumptuous brocade to put on the person who wrote the six +hands, and bring him hither." + +At this command the officers could not forbear laughing. The sultan +was incensed at their rudeness, and would have punished them, had they +not explained. + +"Sir," said they, "we humbly beg your majesty's pardon. These hands +were not written by a man, but by an ape." + +"What do you say?" exclaimed the sultan. "Those admirable characters, +are they not written by the hands of a man?" + +"No, sir," replied the officers; "we assure your majesty that it was +an ape, who wrote them in our presence." + +The sultan was too much surprised at this account not to desire a +sight of me, and therefore said, "Do what I command you, and bring me +speedily that wonderful ape." + +The officers returned to the vessel, and showed the captain their +order, who answered, "The sultan's command must be obeyed." Whereupon +they clothed me with the rich brocade robe, and carried me ashore, +where they set me on horseback, while the sultan waited for me at his +palace with a great number of courtiers. + +The procession commenced; the harbor, the streets, the public places, +windows, terraces, palaces, and houses were filled with an infinite +number of people of all ranks, who flocked from every part of the city +to see me; for the rumor was spread in a moment that the sultan had +chosen an ape to be his grand vizier; and after having served for a +spectacle to the people, who could not forbear to express their +surprise by redoubling their shouts and cries, I arrived at the +sultan's palace. + +I found the prince on his throne in the midst of the grandees; I made +my obeisance three times very low, and at last kneeled and kissed the +ground before him, and afterward took my seat in the posture of an +ape. The whole assembly viewed me with admiration, and could not +comprehend how it was possible that an ape should so well understand +how to pay the sultan his due respect; and he himself was more +astonished than any. In short, the usual ceremony of the audience +would have been complete, could I have added speech to my behavior. + +The sultan dismissed his courtiers, and none remained by him but the +chief of the attendants of the palace, a little young slave, and +myself. He went from his chamber of audience into his own apartment, +where he ordered dinner to be brought. As he sat at table, he made me +a sign to approach and eat with them. To show my obedience, I kissed +the ground, arose, and placed myself at the table, and ate. + +Before the table was cleared, I espied a standish, which I made a sign +to have brought me; having got it, I wrote upon a large peach some +verses expressive of my acknowledgment to the sultan; who, having read +them, after I had presented the peach to him, was still more +astonished. When the things were removed, they brought him a +particular liquor, of which he caused them to give me a glass. I +drank, and wrote upon the glass some new verses, which explained the +state of happiness I was now in, after many sufferings. The sultan +read these likewise, and said, "A man that was capable of composing +such poetry would rank among the greatest of men." + +The sultan caused to be brought to him a chessboard,[20] and asked me +by a sign if I understood that game, and would play with him. I kissed +the ground; and laying my hand upon my head, signified that I was +ready to receive that honor. He won the first game; but I won the +second and third; and perceiving he was somewhat displeased at my +success, I made a stanza to pacify him, in which I told him that two +potent armies had been fighting furiously all day, but that they +concluded a peace toward the evening, and passed the remaining part of +the night very amicably together upon the field of battle. + +[Footnote 20: Chess is said to have had its origin in the East, and to +have been introduced into Europe after the Crusades.] + +So many circumstances appearing to the sultan beyond what had ever +either been seen or known of apes, he determined not to be the only +witness of these prodigies himself, but having a daughter, called the +Lady of Beauty, sent for her, that she should share his pleasure. + +The princess, who had her face unveiled, no sooner came into the room +than she put on her veil, and said to the sultan, "Sir, I am surprised +that you have sent for me to appear before a man. That seeming ape is +a young prince, son of a powerful sultan, and has been metamorphosed +into an ape by enchantment. When I was just out of the nursery, an old +lady who waited on me was a most expert magician, and taught me +seventy rules of magic. By this science I know all enchanted persons +at first sight: I know who they are, and by whom they have been +enchanted; therefore do not be surprised if I should forthwith restore +this prince, in spite of the enchantments, to his own form." + +"Do so, then," interrupted the sultan, "for you cannot give me +greater pleasure, as I wish to have him for my grand vizier, and +bestow you upon him for a wife." + +"I am ready, sire," answered the princess, "to obey you in all things +you please to command." + +The princess, the Lady of Beauty, went into her apartment, and brought +thence a knife, which had some Hebrew words engraved on the blade: she +made the sultan, the little slave, and myself, descend into a private +court of the palace, and there left us under a gallery that went round +it. She placed herself in the middle of the court, where she made a +great circle, and within it she wrote several words in ancient Arabian +characters. + +When she had finished and prepared the circle, she placed herself in +the center of it, where she began incantations, and repeated verses of +the Koran. The air grew insensibly dark, as if it had been night; we +found ourselves struck with consternation, and our fear increased when +we saw the genie appear suddenly in the shape of a lion[21] of +gigantic size. + +[Footnote 21: This same power of changing the form has found a place +in ancient and modern story. The Proteus of heathen mythology ever +found means of safety and protection by his sudden assumption of some +new form and shape.] + +"Thou shalt pay dearly," said the lion, "for the trouble thou hast +given me in coming here." In saying this, he opened his horrible jaws, +and advanced to devour her; but she, being on her guard, jumped back, +and had just time to pluck out a hair; and pronouncing two or three +words, she changed it into a sharp scythe, with which she immediately +cut the lion in two pieces, through the middle. + +The two parts of the lion directly disappeared, and the head changed +into a large scorpion. The princess then took the form of a serpent, +and fought the scorpion, which, finding itself defeated, changed into +an eagle, and flew away. But the serpent then became another eagle, +black, and very large, and went in pursuit of it. We now lost sight of +them for some time. + +Shortly after they had disappeared, the earth opened before us, and a +black and white cat appeared, the hairs of which stood quite on end, +and which made a most horrible mewing. A black wolf directly followed +after her, and gave her no time to rest. The cat, being thus hard +pressed, changed into a worm, and hid itself in a pomegranate which +lay by accident on the ground; but the pomegranate swelled +immediately, and became as big as a gourd, which, lifting itself up to +the roof of the gallery, rolled there for some time backward and +forward; it then fell down again into the court, and broke into +several pieces. + +The wolf had in the meanwhile transformed itself into a cock, and now +fell to picking up the seeds of the pomegranate one after another; but +finding no more, he came toward us with his wings spread, making a +great noise, as if he would ask us whether there were any more seed. +There was one lying on the brink of the canal, which the cock +perceiving as he went back, ran speedily thither; but just as he was +going to pick it up the seed rolled into a fountain and turned into a +little fish. + +The cock, flying toward the fountain, turned into a pike, and pursued +the small fish; they both continued under water above two hours, and +we knew not what was become of them; but suddenly we heard terrible +cries, which made us tremble, and a little while after we saw the +genie and princess all in flames. They threw ashes of fire out of +their mouths at each other, till they came to close combat; then the +two fires increased, with a thick, burning smoke, which mounted so +high that we had reason to apprehend it would set the palace on fire. +But we very soon had a more pressing occasion of fear, for the genie, +having got loose from the princess, came to the gallery where we +stood, and blew flames of fire upon us. We must all have perished had +not the princess, running to our assistance, forced him to retire, and +to defend himself against her; yet, notwithstanding all her exertions, +she could not hinder the sultan's beard from being burned, and his +face scorched, and a spark from entering my right eye, and making it +blind. The sultan and I expected nothing but death, when we heard a +cry of "Victory, victory!" and instantly the princess appeared in her +natural shape; but the genie was reduced to a heap of ashes. + +The princess approached us and hastily called for a cupful of water, +which the young slave, who had received no hurt, brought her. She took +it, and after pronouncing some words over it, threw it upon me, +saying, "If thou art become an ape by enchantment, change thy shape, +and take that of a man, which thou hadst before." These words were +hardly uttered when I again became a man in every respect as I was +before my transformation, excepting the loss of my eye. + +I was preparing to return the princess my thanks, but she prevented me +by addressing herself to her father: "Sire, I have gained the victory +over the genie; but it is a victory that costs me dear. I have but a +few minutes to live; the fire has pierced me during the terrible +combat, and I find it is gradually consuming me. This would not have +happened had I perceived the last of the pomegranate seeds, and +swallowed it, as I did the others when I was changed into a cock; the +genie had fled thither as to his last intrenchment, and upon that the +success of the combat depended. This oversight obliged me to have +recourse to fire, and to fight with those mighty arms as I did, +between heaven and earth, in your presence; for in spite of all, I +made the genie know that I understood more than he; I have conquered, +and reduced him to ashes, but I cannot escape death, which is +approaching." + +Suddenly the princess exclaimed, "I burn, I burn!" She found that the +fire had at last seized upon her vital parts, which made her still +cry, "I burn!" until death had put an end to her intolerable pain. The +effect of that fire was so extraordinary, that in a few moments she +was wholly reduced to ashes, as the genie had been. + +I cannot tell you, madam, how much I was grieved at so dismal a +spectacle; I had rather all my life have continued an ape or a dog, +than to have seen my benefactress thus miserably perish. The sultan +cried piteously, and beat himself on his head and breast, until, being +quite overcome with grief, he fainted away. In the meantime, the +attendants and officers came running at the sultan's lamentations, and +with much difficulty brought him to himself. + +When the knowledge of the death of the princess had spread through the +palace and the city, all the people greatly bewailed. Public mourning +was observed for seven days, and many ceremonies were performed. The +ashes of the genie were thrown into the air; but those of the princess +were collected into a precious urn, to be preserved; and the urn was +deposited in a superb mausoleum[22] constructed for that purpose on +the spot where the princess had been consumed. + +The grief of the sultan for the loss of his daughter confined him to +his chamber for a whole month. Before he had fully recovered his +strength, he sent for me and said, "You are the cause of all these +misfortunes; depart hence therefore in peace, without further delay, +and take care never again to appear in my dominions on penalty of thy +life." + +I was obliged to quit the palace, again cast down to a low estate, and +an outcast from the world. Before I left the city I went into a +bagnio, where I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and put on +a calender's robe. I passed through many countries without making +myself known; at last I resolved to visit Bagdad, in hopes of meeting +with the Commander of the Faithful, to move his compassion by relating +to him my unfortunate adventures. I arrived this evening; and the +first man I met was this calender, our brother, who spoke before me. + +[Footnote 22: The erection of these tombs over the supposed effigy, or +the real remains, of the deceased, is often mentioned in these tales. +The same type of tomb, with its dome or cupola, prevails throughout. A +structure of a similar fashion is celebrated in history as the Taj +Mahal at Agra, erected by the Shah Jehan, in memory of his queen, +Mumtaz Mahal. It stands on a marble terrace over the Jamna, and is +surrounded by extensive gardens. The building itself on the outside is +of white marble, with a high cupola and four minarets. In the center +of the inside is a lofty hall of a circular form under a dome, in the +middle of which is the tomb, inclosed within an open screen of +elaborate tracery formed of marble and mosaics. The materials are +lapis lazuli, jasper, bloodstone, a sort of golden stone (not well +understood), agates, carnelian, jade, and various other stones. A +single flower in the screen contains a hundred stones; "and yet," says +Bishop Heber; "though everything is finished like an ornament for a +drawing-room chimney-piece, the general effect is rather solemn and +impressive than gaudy."--Elphinstone's _India_, p. 528; and _Asiatic +Researches_, Vol. V, p. 434.] + +You know the remaining part, madam, and the cause of my having the +honor to be here. + + * * * * * + +When the second calender had concluded his story, Zobeide, to whom he +had addressed his speech, said, "It is well; you are at liberty": but +instead of departing he also petitioned the lady to show him the same +favor vouchsafed to the first calender, and went and sat down by him. + +Then the third calender, knowing it was his turn to speak, addressed +himself, like the others, to Zobeide, and began his history as +follows: + + +THE HISTORY OF THE THIRD CALENDER + +My story, O honorable lady, differs from those you have already heard. +The two princes who have spoken before me have each lost an eye by +events beyond their own control; but I lost mine through my own fault. + +My name is Agib. I am the son of a sultan. After his death I took +possession of his dominions, and continued in the city where he had +resided. My kingdom is composed of several fine provinces upon the +mainland, besides a number of valuable islands. My first object was to +visit the provinces. I afterward caused my whole fleet to be fitted +out, and went to my islands to gain the hearts of my subjects by my +presence, and to confirm them in their loyalty. These voyages gave me +some taste for navigation, in which I took so much pleasure that I +resolved to make some discoveries beyond my own territories; to which +end I caused ten ships to be fitted out, embarked, and set sail. + +Our voyage was very pleasant for forty days successively; but on the +forty-first night the wind became contrary, and so boisterous that we +were nearly lost. I gave orders to steer back to my own coast; but I +perceived at the same time that my pilot knew not where we were. Upon +the tenth day a seaman, being sent to look out for land from the +masthead, gave notice that he could see nothing but sky and sea, but +that right ahead he perceived a great blackness. + +The pilot changed color at this account, and throwing his turban on +the deck with one hand, and beating his breast with the other, cried, +"O sir, we are all lost; not one of us can escape; and with all my +skill it is not in my power to effect our deliverance." + +I asked him what reason he had thus to despair. + +He exclaimed, "The tempest has brought us so far out of our course +that to-morrow about noon we shall be near the black mountain, or mine +of adamant, which at this very minute draws all your fleet toward it +by virtue of the iron in your ships; and when we approach within a +certain distance the attraction of the adamant will have such force +that all the nails will be drawn out of the sides and bottoms of the +ships, and fasten to the mountain, so that your vessels will fall to +pieces and sink. This mountain," continued the pilot, "is +inaccessible. On the summit there is a dome of fine brass, supported +by pillars of the same metal, and on the top of that dome stands a +horse, likewise of brass, with a rider on his back, who has a plate of +lead fixed to his breast, upon which some talismanic characters are +engraved. Sir, the tradition is, that this statue is the chief cause +why so many ships and men have been lost and sunk in this place, and +that it will ever continue to be fatal to all those who have the +misfortune to approach, until it shall be thrown down." + +The pilot having finished his discourse, began to weep afresh, and all +the rest of the ship's company did the same, and they took farewell of +each other. + +The next morning we distinctly perceived the black mountain. About +noon we were so near that we found what the pilot had foretold to be +true; for all the nails and iron in the ships flew toward the +mountain, where they fixed, by the violence of the attraction, with a +horrible noise; the ships split asunder, and their cargoes sank into +the sea. + +All my people were drowned, but God had mercy on me and permitted me +to save myself by means of a plank, which the wind drove ashore just +at the foot of the mountain. I did not receive the least hurt; and my +good fortune brought me to a landing place where there were steps that +led up to the summit of the mountain. + +At last I reached the top, without accident. I went into the dome, +and, kneeling on the ground, gave God thanks for His mercies. + +I passed the night under the dome. In my sleep an old grave man +appeared to me, and said, "Hearken, Agib; as soon as thou art awake +dig up the ground under thy feet: thou wilt find a bow of brass, and +three arrows of lead. Shoot the three arrows at the statue, and the +rider and his horse will fall into the sea; this being done, the sea +will swell and rise to the foot of the dome. When it has come so high, +thou wilt perceive a boat, with one man holding an oar in each hand; +this man is also of metal, but different from that thou hast thrown +down; step on board, but without mentioning the name of God, and let +him conduct thee. He will in ten days' time bring thee into another +sea, where thou shalt find an opportunity to return to thy country, +provided, as I have told thee, thou dost not mention the name of God +during the whole voyage." + +When I awoke I felt much comforted by the vision, and did not fail to +observe everything that the old man had commanded me. I took the bow +and arrows out of the ground, shot at the horseman, and with the third +arrow I overthrew him and the horse. In the meantime the sea swelled +and rose up by degrees. When it came as high as the foot of the dome +upon the top of the mountain, I saw, afar off, a boat rowing toward +me, and I returned God thanks. + +When the boat made land I stepped aboard, and took great heed not to +pronounce the name of God, neither spoke I one word. I sat down, and +the man of metal began to row off from the mountain. He rowed without +ceasing till the ninth day, when I saw some islands, which gave me +hopes that I should escape all the danger that I feared. The excess of +my joy made me forget what I was forbidden: "God is great! God be +praised!" said I. + +I had no sooner spoken than the boat and man sank, casting me upon the +sea. I swam until night, when, as my strength began to fail, a wave +vast as a mountain threw me on the land. The first thing I did was to +strip, and to dry my clothes. + +The next morning I went forward to discover what sort of country I was +in. I had not walked far before I found I was upon a desert, though a +very pleasant island, abounding with trees and wild shrubs bearing +fruit. I recommended myself to God, and prayed Him to dispose of me +according to His will. + +Immediately after, I saw a vessel coming from the mainland, before the +wind, directly toward the island. I got up into a very thick tree, +from whence, though unseen, I might safely view them. The vessel came +into a little creek, where ten slaves landed, carrying a spade and +other instruments for digging up the ground. They went toward the +middle of the island, where they dug for a considerable time, after +which they lifted up a trapdoor. They returned again to the vessel, +and unloaded several sorts of provisions and furniture, which they +carried to the place where they had been digging; they then descended +into a subterranean dwelling. + +I saw them once more go to the ship, and return soon after with an old +man, who led a handsome lad of about fifteen years of age. They all +descended when the trapdoor had been opened. After they had again come +up, they let down the trapdoor, covered it over with earth, and +returned to the creek where the ship lay; but I saw not the young man +in their company. This made me believe that he had stayed behind in +the subterranean cavern. + +The old man and the slaves went on board, and steered their course +toward the mainland. When I perceived they had proceeded to such a +distance that I could not be seen by them, I came down from the tree, +and went directly to the place where I had seen the ground broken. I +removed the earth by degrees, till I came to a stone two or three feet +square. I lifted it up, and found that it covered the head of a +flight of stairs, also of stone. I descended, and at the bottom found +myself in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and furnished with a +carpet, a couch covered with tapestry, and cushions of rich stuff, +upon which the young man sat. + +The young man, when he perceived me, was considerably alarmed; but I +made a low obeisance, and said to him, "Sir, do not fear. I am a king, +and I will do you no harm. On the contrary, it is probable that your +good destiny may have brought me hither to deliver you out of this +tomb, where it seems you have been buried alive. But what surprises me +(for you must know that I have seen all that hath passed since your +coming into this island) is, that you suffered yourself to be entombed +in this place without any resistance." + +The young man, much assured at these words, with a smiling countenance +requested me to seat myself by him. As soon as I was seated he said: +"Prince, my story will surprise you. My father is a jeweler. He has +many slaves, and also agents at the several courts, which he furnishes +with precious stones. He had been long married without having issue +when he dreamed that he should have a son, though his life would be +but short. Some time after, I was born, which occasioned great joy in +the family. My father, who had observed the very moment of my birth, +consulted astrologers about my nativity, and was answered, 'Your son +shall live happily till the age of fifteen, when his life will be +exposed to a danger which he will hardly be able to escape. But if his +good destiny preserve him beyond that time, he will live to a great +age. It will be,' said they, 'when the statue of brass, that stands +upon the summit of the mountain of adamant, shall be thrown into the +sea by Prince Agib, and, as the stars prognosticate, your son will be +killed fifty days afterward by that prince.' + +"My father took all imaginable care of my education until this year, +which is the fifteenth of my age. He had notice given him yesterday +that the statue of brass had been thrown into the sea about ten days +ago. This news alarmed him much; and, in consequence of the prediction +of the astrologers, he took the precaution to form this subterranean +habitation to hide me in during the fifty days after the throwing down +of the statue; and therefore, as it is ten days since this happened, +he came hastily hither to conceal me, and promised at the end of forty +days to return and fetch me away. For my own part, I am sanguine in my +hopes, and cannot believe that Prince Agib will seek for me in a place +under ground, in the midst of a desert island." + +He had scarcely done speaking when I said to him, with great joy: +"Dear sir, trust in the goodness of God, and fear nothing. I will not +leave you till the forty days have expired, of which the foolish +astrologers have made you apprehensive; and in the meanwhile I will do +you all the service in my power; after which, with leave of your +father and yourself, I shall have the benefit of getting to the +mainland in your vessel; and when I am returned into my kingdom, I +will remember the obligations I owe you, and endeavor to demonstrate +my gratitude by suitable acknowledgments." + +This discourse encouraged the jeweler's son, and inspired him with +confidence. I took care not to inform him I was the very Agib whom he +dreaded, lest I should alarm his fears. I found the young man of ready +wit, and partook with him of his provisions, of which he had enough +to have lasted beyond the forty days though he had had more guests +than myself. In short, madam, we spent thirty-nine days in this +subterranean abode in the pleasantest manner possible. + +The fortieth day appeared; and in the morning, when the young man +awoke, he said to me, with a transport of joy that he could not +restrain, "Prince, this is the fortieth day, and I am not dead, thanks +to God and your good company. My father will not fail to make you, +very shortly, every acknowledgment of his gratitude for your +attentions, and will furnish you with every necessary for your return +to your kingdom. But," continued he, "while we are waiting his +arrival, dear prince, pray do me the favor to fetch me a melon and +some sugar,[23] that I may eat some to refresh me." + +Out of several melons that remained I took the best, and laid it on a +plate; and as I could not find a knife to cut it with, I asked the +young man if he knew where there was one. + +"There is one," said he, "upon this cornice over my head." I +accordingly saw it there, and made so much haste to reach it that, +while I had it in my hand, my foot being entangled in the carpet, I +fell most unhappily upon the young man, and the knife pierced his +heart. + +At this spectacle I cried out with agony. I beat my head, my face, my +breast; I tore my clothes; I threw myself on the ground with +unspeakable sorrow and grief. + +[Footnote 23: Sugar has been traced to the Arabic "succar," which is +the Persian "shachar." The sugar-cane is a jointed reed, crowned with +leaves or blades; it contains a soft, pithy substance, full of sweet +juice. The people of Egypt eat a great quantity of the green +sugar-canes, and make a coarse loaf-sugar, and also sugar-candy and +some very fine sugar, sent to Constantinople to the Grand Signor, +which is very dear, being made only for that purpose.--Dr. Richard +Pocock, _Travels_, Vol. I, p. 204.] + +I would have embraced death without any reluctance, had it presented +itself to me. "But what we wish, whether it be good or evil, will not +always happen according to our desire." Nevertheless, considering that +all my tears and sorrows would not restore the young man to life, and, +the forty days being expired, I might be surprised by his father, I +quitted the subterranean dwelling, laid down the great stone upon the +entrance, and covered it with earth. I again ascended into the tree +which had previously sheltered me, when I saw the expected vessel +approaching the shore. + +The old man with his slaves landed immediately, and advanced toward +the subterranean dwelling, with a countenance that showed some hope; +but when they saw the earth had been newly removed, they changed +color, particularly the old man. They lifted up the stone, and +descended the stairs. They called the young man by his name, but no +answer was returned. Their fears redoubled. They searched about, and +at last found him stretched on his couch, with the knife through his +heart, for I had not had the courage to draw it out. On seeing this, +they uttered such lamentable cries that my tears flowed afresh. The +unfortunate father continued a long while insensible, and made them +more than once despair of his life; but at last he came to himself. +The slaves then brought up his son's body, dressed in his best +apparel, and when they had made a grave they buried it. The old man, +supported by two slaves, and his face covered with tears, threw the +first earth upon the body, after which the slaves filled up the grave. + +This being done, all the furniture was brought up, and, with the +remaining provisions, put on board the vessel. The old man, overcome +with sorrow, was carried upon a litter to the ship, which stood out to +sea, and in a short time was out of sight. + +After the old man and his slaves were gone I was left alone upon the +island. I lay that night in the subterranean dwelling, which they had +shut up, and when the day came, I walked round the island. + +I led this wearisome life for a whole month. At the expiration of this +time I perceived that the sea had sunk so low that there remained +between me and the continent but a small stream, which I crossed, and +the water did not reach above the middle of my leg. At last I got upon +more firm ground. When I had proceeded some distance from the sea I +saw a good way before me something that resembled a great fire, which +afforded me some comfort; for I said to myself, I shall here find some +persons, it not being possible that this fire should kindle of itself. +As I drew nearer, however, I found my error, and discovered that what +I had taken for a fire was a castle of red copper, which the beams of +the sun made to appear at a distance like flames. As I wondered at +this magnificent building, I saw ten handsome young men coming along; +but what surprised me was that they were all blind of the right eye. +They were accompanied by an old man, very tall, and of a venerable +aspect. + +As I was conjecturing by what adventure these men could come together, +they approached, and seemed glad to see me. After we had made our +salutations, they inquired what had brought me thither. I told them my +story, which filled them with great astonishment. + +After I had concluded my account, the young men prayed me to accompany +them into the palace, and brought me into a spacious hall, where there +were ten small blue sofas set round, separate from one another. In the +middle of this circle stood an eleventh sofa, not so high as the rest, +but of the same color, upon which the old man before mentioned sat +down, and the young men occupied the other ten. But as each sofa could +only contain one man, one of the young men said to me, "Sit down, +friend, upon that carpet in the middle of the room, and do not inquire +into anything that concerns us, nor the reason why we are all blind of +the right eye." + +The old man, having sat a short time, arose, and went out; but he +returned in a minute or two, brought in supper, distributed to each +man separately his proportion, and likewise brought me mine, which I +ate apart, as the rest did; and when supper was almost ended, he +presented to each of us a cup of wine. + +One of the young men observing that it was late, said to the old man, +"You do not bring us that with which we may acquit ourselves of our +duty." At these words the old man arose, and went into a closet, and +brought out thence upon his head ten basins, one after another, all +covered with black stuff; he placed one before every gentleman, +together with a light. + +They uncovered their basins, which contained ashes and powdered +charcoal; they mixed all together, and rubbed and bedaubed their faces +with it; and having thus blackened themselves, they wept and lamented, +beating their heads and breasts, and crying continually, "This is the +fruit of our idleness and curiosity." + +[Illustration: _These ladies vied with each other in their eager +solicitude to do me all possible service Page 91_] + +They continued this strange employment nearly the whole of the +night. I wished a thousand times to break the silence which had been +imposed upon me, and to ask the reason of their strange proceedings. +The next day, soon after we had arisen, we went out to walk, and then +I said to them, "I cannot forbear asking why you bedaubed your faces +with black--how it has happened that each of you has but one eye. I +conjure you to satisfy my curiosity." + +One of the young men answered on behalf of the rest, "Once more we +advise you to restrain your curiosity; it will cost you the loss of +your right eye." + +"No matter," I replied; "be assured that if such a misfortune befall +me, I will not impute it to you, but to myself." + +He further represented to me that when I had lost an eye I must not +hope to remain with them, if I were so disposed, because their number +was complete, and no addition could be made to it. I begged them, let +it cost what it would, to grant my request. + +The ten young men, perceiving that I was so fixed in my resolution, +took a sheep, killed it, and after they had taken off the skin, +presented me with a knife, telling me it would be useful to me on an +occasion, which they would soon explain. "We must sew you in this +skin," said they, "and then leave you; upon which a bird of monstrous +size, called a roc, will appear in the air, and, taking you for a +sheep, will pounce upon you, and soar with you to the sky. But let not +that alarm you; he will descend with you again, and lay you on the top +of a mountain. When you find yourself on the ground, cut the skin with +your knife, and throw it off. As soon as the roc sees you, he will fly +away for fear, and leave you at liberty. Do not stay, but walk on +till you come to a spacious palace, covered with plates of gold, large +emeralds, and other precious stones. Go up to the gate, which always +stands open, and walk in. We have each of us been in that castle, but +will tell you nothing of what we saw, or what befell us there; you +will learn by your own experience. All that we can inform you is, that +it has cost each of us our right eye; and the penance which you have +been witness to, is what we are obliged to observe in consequence of +having been there; but we cannot explain ourselves further." + +When the young man had thus spoken, I wrapped myself in the sheep's +skin, holding fast to the knife which was given me; and after the +young men had been at the trouble to sew the skin about me, they +retired into the hall, and left me alone. The roc they spoke of soon +arrived; he pounced upon me, took me in his talons like a sheep, and +carried me up to the summit of the mountain. + +When I found myself on the ground I cut the skin with the knife, and +throwing it off, the roc at the sight of me flew away. This roc is a +white bird of a monstrous size; his strength is such that he can lift +up elephants from the plains, and carry them to the tops of mountains, +where he feeds upon them. + +Being impatient to reach the palace, I lost no time, but made so much +haste that I got thither in half a day's journey; and I must say that +I found it surpassed the description they had given me of its +magnificence. + +The gate being open, I entered a square court, so large that there +were around it ninety-nine gates of sandalwood and wood of aloes, and +one of gold, without reckoning those of several superb staircases +that led to apartments above, besides many more which I could not see. + +I saw a door standing open just before me, through which I entered +into a large hall. Here I found forty young women, of such perfect +beauty as imagination could not surpass; they were all most +sumptuously appareled. As soon as they saw me they arose, and without +waiting my salutations, said to me, with tones of joy, "Welcome! +welcome! We have long expected you. You are at present our lord, +master, and judge, and we are your slaves, ready to obey your +commands." + +After these words were spoken, these ladies vied with each other in +their eager solicitude to do me all possible service. One brought hot +water to wash my feet; a second poured sweet-scented water on my +hands; others brought me all kinds of necessaries and change of +apparel; others again brought in a magnificent collation; and the rest +came, with glasses in their hands, to pour me delicious wines, all in +good order, and in the most charming manner possible. Some of the +ladies brought in musical instruments, and sang most delightful songs; +while others danced before me, two and two, with admirable grace. In +short, honored madam, I must tell you that I passed a whole year of +most pleasurable life with these forty ladies. At the end of that time +I was greatly surprised to see these ladies with great sorrow +impressed upon their countenances, and to hear them all say, "Adieu, +dear prince, adieu! For we must leave you." + +After they had spoken these words, they began to weep bitterly. + +"My dear ladies," said I, "have the kindness not to keep me any longer +in suspense. Tell me the cause of your sorrow." + +"Well," said one of them, "to satisfy you, we must acquaint you that +we are all princesses, daughters of kings. We live here together in +the manner you have seen; but at the end of every year we are obliged +to be absent forty days, for reasons we are not permitted to reveal; +and afterward we return again to this palace. Before we depart we will +leave you the keys of everything, especially those of the hundred +doors, where you will find enough to satisfy your curiosity, and to +relieve your solitude during our absence. But we entreat you to +forbear opening the golden door; for if you do, we shall never see you +again; and the apprehension of this augments our grief." + +We separated with much tenderness; and after I had embraced them all +they departed, and I remained alone in the castle. + +I determined not to forget the important advice they had given me, not +to open the golden door; but as I was permitted to satisfy my +curiosity in everything else, I took the first of the keys of the +other doors, which were hung in regular order. + +I opened the first door, and entered an orchard, which I believe the +universe could not equal. I could not imagine anything to surpass it. +The symmetry, the neatness, the admirable order of the trees, the +abundance and diversity of unknown fruits, their freshness and beauty, +delighted me. Nor must I neglect to inform you that this delightful +garden was watered in a most singular manner; small channels, cut out +with great art and regularity, and of different lengths, carried +water in considerable quantities to the roots of such trees as +required much moisture. Others conveyed it in smaller quantities to +those whose fruits were already formed; some carried still less; to +those whose fruits were swelling; and others carried only so much as +was just requisite to water those which had their fruits come to +perfection, and only wanted to be ripened. They far exceeded in size +the ordinary fruits in our gardens. I shut the door, and opened the +next. + +Instead of an orchard, I found here a flower garden, which was no less +extraordinary in its kind. The roses, jessamines, violets, daffodils, +hyacinths, anemones, tulips, pinks, lilies, and an infinite number of +flowers, which do not grow in other places except at certain times, +were there flourishing all at once; and nothing could be more +delicious than the fragrant smell which they emitted. + +I opened the third door, and found a large aviary, paved with marble +of several fine and uncommon colors. The trellis work was made of +sandalwood and wood of aloes. It contained a vast number of +nightingales, goldfinches, canary birds, larks, and other rare singing +birds, and the vessels that held their seed were of the most sparkling +jasper or agate. The sun went down, and I retired, charmed with the +chirping notes of the multitude of birds, who then began to perch upon +such places as suited them for repose during the night. I went to my +chamber, resolving on the following days to open all the rest of the +doors, excepting that of gold. + +The next day I opened the fourth door. I entered a large court, +surrounded with forty gates, all open, and through each of them was an +entrance into a treasury. The first was stored with heaps of pearls; +and, what is almost incredible, the number of those stones which are +most precious, and as large as pigeon's eggs, exceeded the number of +those of the ordinary size. In the second treasury,[24] there were +diamonds, carbuncles, and rubies; in the third, emeralds; in the +fourth, ingots of gold; in the fifth, money; in the sixth, ingots of +silver; and in the two following, money. The rest contained amethysts, +chrysolites, topazes, opals, turquoises, agate, jasper, cornelian, and +coral, of which there was a storehouse filled, not only with branches, +but whole trees. + +[Footnote 24: These tales were written shortly after the conquest of +Persia, the riches of which country may be reflected in these +narratives. "The naked robbers of the desert were suddenly enriched, +beyond the measure of their hope and knowledge. Each chamber revealed +a new chamber secreted with art, or ostentatiously displayed; the gold +and silver, the various wardrobes and precious furniture, surpassed +(says Abulfeda) the estimate of fancy or numbers, and another +historian defines the untold and almost infinite mass by the fabulous +computation of thousands of thousands of pieces of gold."--Gibbon's +_Decline and Fall._] + +Thus I went through, day by day, these various wonders. Thirty-nine +days afforded me but just as much time as was necessary to open +ninety-nine doors, and to admire all that presented itself to my view, +so that there was only the hundredth door left, which I was forbidden +to open. + +The fortieth day after the departure of those charming princesses +arrived, and had I but retained so much self-command as I ought to +have had, I should have been this day the happiest of all mankind, +whereas now I am the most unfortunate. But through my weakness, which +I shall ever repent, and the temptations of an evil spirit, I opened +that fatal door! But before I had moved my foot to enter, a smell, +pleasant enough but too powerful for my senses, made me faint away. +However, I soon recovered; but instead of taking warning from this +incident to close the door and restrain my curiosity, I entered, and +found myself in a spacious vaulted apartment, illuminated by several +large tapers placed in candlesticks of solid gold. + +Among the many objects that attracted my attention was a black horse, +of the most perfect symmetry and beauty. I approached in order the +better to observe him, and found he had on a saddle and bridle of +massive gold, curiously wrought. One part of his manger was filled +with clean barley, and the other with rose water. I laid hold of his +bridle, and led him out to view him by daylight. I mounted, and +endeavored to make him move; but finding he did not stir, I struck him +with a switch I had taken up in his magnificent stable. He had no +sooner felt the whip than he began to neigh in a most horrible manner, +and, extending wings, which I had not before perceived, flew up with +me into the air. My thoughts were fully occupied in keeping my seat; +and, considering the fear that had seized me, I sat well. At length he +directed his course toward the earth, and lighting upon the terrace of +a palace, without giving me time to dismount, he shook me out of the +saddle with such force as to throw me behind him, and with the end of +his tail he struck out my eye. + +Thus it was I became blind of one eye. I then recollected the +predictions of the ten young gentlemen. The horse again took wing, and +soon disappeared. I got up, much vexed at the misfortune I had brought +upon myself. I walked upon the terrace, covering my eye with one of my +hands, for it pained me exceedingly, and then descended, and entered +into a hall. I soon discovered, by the ten sofas in a circle and the +eleventh in the middle, lower than the rest, that I was in the castle +whence I had been carried by the roc. + +The ten young men seemed not at all surprised to see me, nor at the +loss of my eye; but said, "We are sorry that we cannot congratulate +you on your return, as we could wish; but we are not the cause of your +misfortune." + +"I should do you wrong," I replied, "to lay it to your charge; I have +only myself to accuse." + +"If," said they, "it be a subject of consolation to the afflicted to +know that others share their sufferings, you have in us this +alleviation of your misfortune. All that has happened to you we also +have endured; we each of us tasted the same pleasures during a year; +and we had still continued to enjoy them had we not opened the golden +door when the princesses were absent. You have been no wiser than we, +and have incurred the same punishment. We would gladly receive you +into our company, to join with us in the penance to which we are +bound, the duration of which we know not. But we have already stated +to you the reasons that render this impossible; depart, therefore, and +proceed to the court of Bagdad,[25] where you will meet with the +person who is to decide your destiny." + +[Footnote 25: Bagdad was founded in the 145th year of the Hejira or +flight of Mohammed to Medina, 767. It was destroyed by Hulakoo, +grandson of Gengis Khan, in the 656th of the Hejira, A.D. 1277, when +the dynasty of the Ambassides was terminated.] + +After they had explained to me the road I was to travel, I departed. + +On the road I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaven, and assumed a +calender's habit. I have had a long journey, but at last I arrived +this evening, and met these my brother calenders at the gate, being +strangers as well as myself. We were mutually surprised at one +another, to see that we were all blind of the same eye; but we had not +leisure to converse long on the subject of our misfortunes. We have +only had time enough to bring us hither, to implore those favors which +you have been generously pleased to grant us. + + * * * * * + +The third calender having finished this relation of his adventures, +Zobeide addressed him and his fellow-calenders thus: "Go wherever you +think proper; you are at liberty." + +But one of them answered, "Madam, we beg you to pardon our curiosity, +and permit us to hear the stories of your other guests who have not +yet spoken." + +Then the lady turned to the caliph, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour, +and said to them, "It is now your turn to relate your adventures; +therefore speak." + +The grand vizier, who had all along been the spokesman, answered +Zobeide: "Madam, in order to obey you, we need only repeat what we +have already said to the fair lady who opened for us the door. We are +merchants come to Bagdad to sell our merchandise, which lies in the +khan[26] where we lodge. We dined to-day with several other persons of +our condition, at a merchant's house of this city; who, after he had +treated us with choice dainties and excellent wines, sent for men and +women dancers and musicians. The great noise we made brought in the +watch, who arrested some of the company, but we had the good fortune +to escape. But it being already late, and the door of our khan shut +up, we knew not whither to retire. We chanced, as we passed along this +street, to hear music at your house, which made us determine to knock +at your gate. This is all the account that we can give you, in +obedience to your commands." + +[Footnote 26: "Khan, or caravansary, a large building of a +quadrangular form, being one story in height. The ground floor serves +for warehouses and stables, while the upper is used for lodgings. They +always contain a fountain, and have cook shops and other conveniences +attached to them in town. The erection of them is considered +meritorious both among Hindus and Mussulmans. They are erected on the +sides of public highways, and are then only a set of bare rooms and +outhouses."--_Popular Cyclopedia_, Vol. II, p. 108.] + +"Well, then," said Zobeide, "you shall all be equally obliged to me; I +pardon you all, provided you immediately depart!" + +Zobeide having given this command, the caliph, the vizier, Mesrour, +the three calenders, and the porter, departed; for the presence of the +seven slaves with their weapons awed them into silence. As soon as +they had quitted the house, and the gate was closed after them, the +caliph said to the calenders, without making himself known, "You, +gentlemen, who are newly come to town, which way do you design to go, +since it is not yet day?" + +"It is this," they replied, "that perplexes us." + +"Follow us," resumed the caliph, "and we will convey you out of +danger." + +He then whispered to the vizier: "Take them along with you, and +to-morrow morning bring them to me." + +The vizier Giafar took the three calenders along with him; the porter +went to his quarters, and the caliph and Mesrour returned to the +palace. + +On the following morning, as the day dawned, the sultan Haroun al +Raschid arose and went to his council chamber, and sat upon his +throne. The grand vizier entered soon after, and made his obeisance. + +"Vizier," said the caliph, "go, bring those ladies and the calenders +at the same time; make haste, and remember that I impatiently expect +your return." + +The vizier, who knew his master's quick and fiery temper, hastened to +obey, and conducted them to the palace with so much expedition that +the caliph was much pleased. + +When the ladies had arrived the caliph turned toward them and said, "I +was last night in your house, disguised in a merchant's habit; but I +am at present Haroun al Raschid, the fifth caliph of the glorious +house of Abbas, and hold the place of our great prophet. I have sent +for you only to know who you are, and to ask for what reason one of +you, after severely whipping the two black dogs, wept with them. And I +am no less curious to know why another of you has her bosom so full of +scars." + +Upon hearing these words, Zobeide thus related her story: + + +THE STORY OF ZOBEIDE + +Commander of the Faithful, my story is truly wonderful. The two black +dogs and myself are sisters by the same father and mother. The two +ladies who are now here are also my sisters, but by another mother. +After our father's death, the property that he left was equally +divided among us. My two half sisters left me, that they might live +with their mother. My two sisters and myself resided with our own +mother. At her death she left us three thousand sequins each. Shortly +after my sisters had received their portions, they married; but their +husbands, having spent all their fortunes, found some pretext for +divorcing them, and put them away. I received them into my house, and +gave them[27] a share of all my goods. At the end of a twelvemonth my +sisters again resolved to marry, and did so. After some months were +passed, they returned again in the same sad condition; and as they +accused themselves a thousand times, I again forgave them, and +admitted them to live with me as before, and we dwelt together for the +space of a year. After this I determined to engage in a commercial +speculation. For this purpose I went with my two sisters to +Bussorah,[28] where I bought a ship ready fitted for sea, and laded +her with such merchandise[29] as I had carried with me from Bagdad. We +set sail with a fair wind, and soon cleared the Persian Gulf; when we +had reached the open sea we steered our course to the Indies, and on +the twentieth day saw land. It was a very high mountain, at the bottom +of which we perceived a great town; having a fresh gale, we soon +reached the harbor, and cast anchor. + +[Footnote 27: "The giving of alms is commanded in the Koran. Hasan, +the son of Ali, grandson of Mohammed, is related to have thrice in his +life divided his substance equally between himself and the +poor."--Sale's _Preliminary Dissertation_, p. 110.] + +[Footnote 28: "At the distance of fourscore miles from the Persian +Gulf, the Euphrates and Tigris unite in a broad and direct current. In +the midway, between the junction and the mouth of these famous +streams, the new settlement of Bussorah was planted on the western +bank; the first colony was composed of eight hundred Moslems; but the +influence of the situation soon reared a flourishing and populous +capital. The air, though excessively hot, is pure and healthy; the +meadows are filled with palm trees and cattle; and one of the adjacent +valleys has been celebrated among the four paradises or gardens of +Asia. Under the first caliphs, the jurisdiction of this Arab colony +extended over the southern provinces of Persia; the city has been +sanctified by the tombs of the companions and martyrs and the vessels +of Europe still frequent the port of Bussorah, as a convenient station +and passage of the Indian trade."--Gibbon's _Decline and Fall_, 41, +C.] + +[Footnote 29: Bussorah was built by the caliph Omar. The city has four +kinds of inhabitants--Jews, Persians, Mohammedans, and Christians. It +is looked upon by the Arabs as one of the most delightful spots in +Asia. The commerce of Bussorah consisted in the interchange of rice, +sugar, spices from Ceylon, coarse white and blue cottons from +Coromandel, cardamom, pepper, sandalwood from Malabar, gold and silver +stuffs, brocades, turbans, shawls, indigo from Surat, pearls from +Bahara, coffee from Mocha, iron, lead, woolen cloths, etc.] + +I had not patience to wait till my sisters were dressed to go along +with me, but went ashore alone in the boat. Making directly to the +gate of the town, I saw there a great number of men upon guard, some +sitting, and others standing with weapons in their hands; and they +had all such dreadful countenances that I was greatly alarmed; but +perceiving they remained stationary, and did not so much as move their +eyes, I took courage and went nearer, when I found they were all +turned into stone. I entered the town, and passed through several +streets, where at different intervals stood men in various attitudes, +but all motionless and petrified. In the quarter inhabited by the +merchants I found most of the shops open; here I likewise found the +people petrified.[30] + +[Footnote 30: "There is a city in Upper Egypt (Ishmonie), called the +petrified city, on account of a great number of statues of men, women, +and children, and other animals, which are said to be seen thereat +this day; all which, as it is believed by the inhabitants, were once +animated beings, but were miraculously changed into stone in all the +various positions of falling, standing, eating, sitting, which they +acted at the instant of their supposed transubstantiation. We did not +fail to inquire after these things, and desired to have a sight of +them; but they told us they were in a certain part, pointing westward, +but were too sacred to be seen by any except believers."--Perry's +_View of the Levant._] + +Having reached a vast square, in the heart of the city, I perceived a +large folding gate, covered with plates of gold, which stood open; a +curtain of silk stuff seemed to be drawn before it; a lamp hung over +the entrance. After I had surveyed the building, I made no doubt but +it was the palace of the prince who reigned over that country; and +being much astonished that I had not met with one living creature, I +approached in hopes of finding some. I lifted up the curtain, and was +surprised at beholding no one but the guards in the vestibule, all +petrified. + +I came to a large court. I went from thence into a room richly +furnished, where I perceived a lady turned into a statue of stone. The +crown of gold on her head, and a necklace of pearls about her neck, +each of them as large as a nut, proclaimed her to be the queen. I +quitted the chamber where the petrified queen was, and passed through +several other apartments richly furnished, and at last came into a +large room where there was a throne of massy gold, raised several +steps above the floor, and enriched with large enchased emeralds, and +upon the throne there was a bed of rich stuff embroidered with pearls. +What surprised me most was a sparkling light which came from above the +bed. Being curious to know whence it proceeded, I ascended the steps, +and, lifting up my head, saw a diamond as large as the egg of an +ostrich, lying upon a low stool; it was so pure that I could not find +the least blemish in it, and it sparkled with so much brilliancy that +when I saw it by daylight I could not endure its luster. + +At the head of the bed there stood on each side a lighted flambeau, +but for what use I could not comprehend; however, it made me imagine +that there must be some one living in the place; for I could not +believe that the torches continued thus burning of themselves. + +The doors being all open, I surveyed some other apartments, that were +as beautiful as those I had already seen. In short, the wonders that +everywhere appeared so wholly engrossed my attention that I forgot my +ship and my sisters, and thought of nothing but gratifying my +curiosity. In the meantime night came on, and I tried to return by the +way I had entered, but I could not find it; I lost myself among the +apartments; and perceiving I was come back again to the large room, +where the throne, the couch, the large diamond, and the torches stood, +I resolved to take my night's lodging there, and to depart the next +morning early, to get aboard my ship. I laid myself down upon a +costly couch, not without some dread to be alone in a desolate place; +and this fear hindered my sleep. + +About midnight I heard a man reading the Koran,[31] in the same tone +as it is read in our mosques. I immediately arose, and taking a torch +in my hand passed from one chamber to another, on that side from +whence the voice proceeded, until looking through a window I found it +to be an oratory. It had, as we have in our mosques, a niche,[32] to +direct us whither we are to turn to say our prayers; there were also +lamps hung up, and two candlesticks with large tapers of white wax +burning. + +[Footnote 31: Koran (derived from the word Karaa, to read) signifies +"the Reading--that which ought to be read." It is the collection of +revelations supposed to be given from heaven to Mohammed during a +period of twenty-three years. Some were given at Mecca, and some at +Medina. Each was regarded by some as a mystery full of divine meaning. +It is divided into thirty parts; and as each mosque has thirty +readers, it is read through once a day. These readers chant it in long +lines with rhythmical ending, and in the absence of definite vowels +they alone know the right pronunciation of the Koran.--Sale's +_Preliminary Dissertation_, p. 56.] + +[Footnote 32: This is the _kaaba_ or _kebla_, a sacred stone in the +center of the temple at Mecca, over which is a lofty building, from +which the name is by some said to be derived--Caaba, high. Mr. +Ferguson, in his account of "The Holy Sepulcher," thus describes it: +"The precept of the Koran is, that all men, when they pray, shall turn +toward the _kaaba_, or holy house, at Mecca; and consequently +throughout the Moslem world, indicators have been put up to enable the +Faithful to fulfill this condition. In India they face west, in +Barbary east, in Syria south. It is true that when rich men, or kings, +built mosques, they frequently covered the face of this wall with +arcades, to shelter the worshiper from the sun or rain. They inclosed +it in a court that his meditations might not be disturbed by the +noises of the outside world. They provided it with fountains, that he +might perform the required ablutions before prayer. But still the +essential part of the mosques is the _mihrab_ or niche, which points +toward Mecca, and toward which, when he bows, the worshiper knows that +the _kaaba_ also is before him." The holy house erected over the +_kaaba_ was decorated annually with rich tapestries and a deep golden +band, at the cost of the caliphs.] + +I saw a little carpet laid down like those we have to kneel upon when +we say our prayers, and a comely young man sat on this carpet, with +great devotion reading the Koran, which lay before him on a desk. At +this sight I was transported with admiration. I wondered how it came +to pass that he should be the only living creature in a town where +all the people were turned into stone, and I do not doubt but there +was something in the circumstance very extraordinary. + +The door being only half shut I opened it, went in, and standing +upright before the niche, I exclaimed, "Bismillah![33] Praise be to +God." The young man turned toward me, and, having saluted me, inquired +what had brought me to this desolate city. I told him in a few words +my history, and I prayed him to tell me why he alone was left alive in +the midst of such terrible desolation. At these words he shut the +Koran, put it into a rich case, and laid it in the niche. Then he thus +addressed me: + +[Footnote 33: Bismillah. All the chapters of the Koran, except nine, +begin with this word. Its meaning is, "In the name of the merciful +God." It is said to be frequently used in conversation by the +Arabs.--Sale's _Preliminary Dissertation_, p. 153.] + +"Know that this city was the metropolis of a mighty kingdom, over +which the sultan, who was my father, reigned. That prince, his whole +court, the inhabitants of the city, and all his other subjects, were +magi, worshipers of fire instead of God. + +"But though I was born of an idolatrous father and mother I had the +good fortune in my youth to have a nurse who was a good Mussulman, +believing in God and in His prophet. 'Dear Prince,' would she +oftentimes say, 'there is but one true God; take heed that you do not +acknowledge and adore any other.' She taught me to read Arabic, and +the book she gave me to study was the Koran. As soon as I was capable +of understanding it, she explained to me all the passages of this +excellent book, unknown to my father or any other person. She died, +but not before she had perfectly instructed me in the Mussulman +religion. After her death, I persisted in worshiping according to its +directions; and I abhor the adoration of fire. + +"About three years and some months ago, a thundering voice was +suddenly sounded so distinctly through the whole city that nobody +could miss hearing it. The words were these: 'Inhabitants, abandon the +worship of fire, and worship the only God who shows mercy.' This voice +was heard three years successively, but no one was converted. On the +last day of that year, at the break of day, all the inhabitants were +changed in an instant into stone, each one in the condition and +posture in which he happened to be. The sultan, my father, and the +queen, my mother, shared the same fate. + +"I am the only person who did not suffer under that heavy judgment, +and ever since I have continued to serve God with more fervency than +before. I am persuaded, dear lady, that He has sent you hither for my +comfort, for which I render Him infinite thanks, for I must own that I +have become weary of this solitary life." + +On hearing these words, I said, "Prince, who can doubt that Providence +has brought me into your port, to afford you an opportunity of +withdrawing from this dismal place? I am a lady at Bagdad, where I +have considerable property; and I dare engage to promise you sanctuary +there, until the mighty Commander of the Faithful, caliph of our +prophet, whom you acknowledge, shows you the honor that is due to your +merit. This renowned prince lives at Bagdad, and as soon as he is +informed of your arrival in his capital you will find it not in vain +to implore his assistance. Stay no longer in a city where you can +only renew your grief; my vessel is at your service, which you may +absolutely command as you shall think fit." He accepted the offer, and +as soon as it was day we left the palace, and went aboard my ship, +where we found my sisters, the captain, and the slaves, all much +troubled at my absence. After I had presented my sisters to the +prince, I told them what had hindered my return the day before, how I +had met with the young prince, his story, and the cause of the +desolation of so fine a city. + +The seamen were taken up several days in unloading the merchandise I +brought with me, and embarking in its stead many of the precious +things in the palace, especially jewels, gold, and money. We left the +furniture and goods, which consisted of an infinite quantity of silver +vessels, because our vessel could not carry it, for it would have +required several vessels more to convey to Bagdad all the riches that +we might have taken with us. + +After we had laden the vessel with what we thought most desirable, we +took such provisions and water aboard as were necessary for our +voyage. At last we set sail with a favorable wind. + +The young prince, my sisters, and myself passed our time very +agreeably. But, alas! this good understanding did not last long, for +my sisters grew jealous of the friendship between the prince and +myself, and maliciously asked me, one day, what we should do with him +when we came to Bagdad. Resolving to put this question off with a +joke, I answered, "I will take him for my husband." Upon that, turning +myself to the prince, I said, "Sir, I humbly beg of you to give your +consent, for as soon as we come to Bagdad I design to offer you my +person to be your slave, to do you all the service that is in my +power, and to resign myself wholly to your commands." + +The prince replied, "I know not, madam, whether you be in jest or no; +but for my part, I seriously declare before these ladies, your +sisters, that from this moment I heartily accept your offer, not with +any intention to have you as a slave, but as my lady and wife." At +these words my sisters changed color, and I could perceive afterward +that they did not love me as before. + +We entered the Persian Gulf, and had come within a short distance of +Bussorah (where I hoped, considering the fair wind, we might have +arrived the day following), when, in the night, while I was asleep, my +sisters watched their opportunity and threw me overboard. They did the +same to the prince, who was drowned. I floated some minutes on the +water, and by good fortune, or rather miracle, I felt ground. I went +toward a dark spot, that, by what I could discern, seemed to be land, +and which, when day appeared, I found to be a desert island, lying +about twenty miles from Bussorah. I soon dried my clothes in the sun, +and as I walked along I found several kinds of fruit, and likewise +fresh water, which gave me some hopes of preserving my life. + +I had just laid myself down to rest in a shade, when I perceived a +very large winged serpent coming toward me, with an irregular waving +movement, and hanging out its tongue, which induced me to conclude it +had received some injury. I instantly arose, and perceived that it was +pursued by a larger serpent which had hold of its tail, and was +endeavoring to devour it. This perilous situation of the first serpent +excited my pity; and instead of retreating, I took up a stone that +lay near me, and threw it with all my strength at its pursuer, whom I +hit upon the head and killed. The other, finding itself at liberty, +took wing and flew away. I looked after it for some time till it +disappeared. I then sought another shady spot for repose, and fell +asleep. + +Judge what was my surprise, when I awoke, to see standing by me a +black woman of lively and agreeable features, who held in her hand two +dogs of the same color, fastened together. I sat up, and asked her who +she was. + +"I am," said she, "the serpent whom you lately delivered from my +mortal enemy, and I wish to requite the important services you have +rendered me. These two black dogs are your sisters, whom I have +transformed into this shape. But this punishment will not suffice; and +my will is that you treat them hereafter in the way I shall direct." + +As soon as she had thus spoken the fairy took me under one of her +arms, and the two black dogs under the other, and conveyed us to my +house in Bagdad, where I found in my storehouses all the riches with +which my vessel had been laden. Before she left me, she delivered to +me the two dogs, and said, "If you would not be changed into a similar +form, I command you to give each of your sisters every night one +hundred lashes with a rod, as the punishment of the crime they have +committed against yourself and the young prince, whom they have +drowned." I was forced to promise obedience. Since that time I have +whipped them every night, though with regret, whereof your majesty has +been a witness. My tears testify with how much sorrow and reluctance I +perform this painful duty. If there be anything else relating to +myself that you desire to know, my sister Amina will give you full +information in the relation of her story. + + * * * * * + +After the caliph had heard Zobeide with much astonishment, he desired +his grand vizier to request Amina to acquaint him wherefore her breast +was disfigured with so many scars. + + +THE HISTORY OF AMINA + +Commander of the Faithful, that I may not repeat those things which +your majesty has already been informed of by my sister, I will only +mention that my mother, having taken a house to pass her widowhood in +private, first bestowed me in marriage on the heir of one of the +richest men in this city. + +I had not been married quite a year before my husband died. I thus +became a widow, and was in possession of all his property, which +amounted to above ninety thousand sequins. When the first six months +of my mourning was over, I caused to be made for me ten different +dresses, of such magnificence that each came to a thousand sequins; +and at the end of the year I began to wear them. + +One day, while I was alone, a lady[34] desired to speak to me. I gave +orders that she should be admitted. She was a very old woman. She +saluted me by kissing the ground, and said to me, kneeling, "Dear +lady, the confidence I have in your charity makes me thus bold. I +have an orphan daughter, whose wedding is on this night. She and I are +both strangers, and have no acquaintance in this town, which much +perplexes me. Therefore, most beautiful lady, if you would vouchsafe +to honor the wedding with your presence, we shall be infinitely +obliged, because the family with whom we shall be allied will then +know that we are not regarded here as unworthy and despised persons. +But, alas, madam, if you refuse this request, how great will be our +mortification! We know not where else to apply." + +[Footnote 34: For the choice of a wife a man generally relies on his +mother, or some other near relation, or a professional female +betrother (who is called, _khatebeh_), for there are women who perform +this office for hire.--Lane's Notes to the _Arabian Nights_, Vol. I, +iv, p. 285.] + +This poor woman's address, which she spoke with tears, moved my +compassion. + +"Good woman," said I, "do not afflict yourself; I will grant you the +favor you desire. Tell me whither I must go, and I will meet you as +soon as I am dressed." The old woman was so transported with joy at my +answer that she kissed my feet before I had time to prevent her. + +"Compassionate lady," said she, rising, "God will reward the kindness +you have shown to your servants, and make your heart as joyful as you +have made theirs. You need not at present trouble yourself; I will +call for you in the evening." + +As soon as she was gone I took the suit I liked best, with a necklace +of large pearls, bracelets, pendants for my ears, and rings set with +the finest and most sparkling diamonds, and prepared to attend the +ceremony. + +When the night closed in, the old woman called upon me, with a +countenance full of joy, and said, "Dear lady, the relations of my +son-in-law, who are the principal ladies of the city, are now met +together. You may come when you please; I am ready to conduct you." + +We immediately set out; she walked before me, and I was followed by a +number of my women and slaves, richly robed for the occasion. We +stopped in a wide street, newly swept and watered, at a spacious gate +with a lamp, by the light of which I read this inscription, in golden +letters, over the entrance: "This is the continual abode of pleasure +and joy." + +The old woman knocked, and the gate was opened immediately. + +I was conducted toward the lower end of the court, into a large hall, +where I was received by a young lady of exceeding beauty. She drew +near, and after having embraced me, made me sit down by her upon a +sofa, on which was raised a throne of precious wood set with diamonds. + +"Madam," said she, "you are brought hither to assist at a wedding; but +I hope it will be a different wedding from what you expected. I have a +brother, one of the handsomest men in the world. His fate depends +wholly upon you, and he will be the unhappiest of men if you do not +take pity on him. If my prayers, madam, can prevail, I shall join them +with his, and humbly beg you will not refuse the proposal of being his +wife." + +After the death of my husband I had not thought of marrying again; but +I had no power to refuse the solicitation of so charming a lady. As +soon as I had given consent by my silence, accompanied with a blush, +the young lady clapped her hands, and immediately a curtain was +withdrawn, from behind which came a young man of so majestic an air, +and so graceful a countenance, that I thought myself happy to have +made such a choice. He sat down by me, and I found from his +conversation that his merits far exceeded the account of him given by +his sister. + +When she perceived that we were satisfied with one another, she +clapped her hands a second time, and a cadi[35] with four witnesses, +entered, who wrote and signed our contract of marriage. + +[Footnote 35: Marriage among the Mohammedans is an exclusively civil +ceremony; and therefore the cadi, a civil judge, and not an imaun, or +minister of religion, was summoned.] + +There was only one condition that my new husband imposed upon me, that +I should not be seen by nor speak to any other man but himself; and he +vowed to me that, if I complied in this respect, I should have no +reason to complain of him. Our marriage was concluded and finished +after this manner; so I became the principal actress in a wedding to +which I had only been invited as a guest. + +About a month after our marriage, having occasion for some stuffs, I +asked my husband's permission to go out to buy them, which he granted; +and I took with me the old woman of whom I spoke before, she being one +of the family, and two of my own female slaves. + +When we came to the street where the merchants reside, the old woman +said, "Dear mistress, since you want silk stuffs, I must take you to a +young merchant of my acquaintance, who has a great variety; and that +you may not fatigue yourself by running from shop to shop, I can +assure you that you will find in his what no other can furnish." I was +easily persuaded, and we entered a shop belonging to a young merchant. +I sat down, and bade the old woman desire him to show me the finest +silk stuffs he had. The woman desired me to speak myself; but I told +her it was one of the articles of my marriage contract not to speak +to any man but my husband, which I ought to keep. + +The merchant showed me several stuffs, of which one pleased me better +than the rest; and I bade her ask the price. He answered the old +woman: "I will not sell it for gold or money; but I will make her a +present of it, if she will give me leave to kiss her cheek." + +I ordered the old woman to tell him that he was very rude to propose +such a freedom. But instead of obeying me, she said, "What the +merchant desires of you is no such great matter; you need not speak, +but only present him your cheek." + +The stuff pleased me so much that I was foolish enough to take her +advice. The old woman and my slaves stood up, that nobody might see, +and I put up my veil;[36] but instead of kissing me, the merchant bit +me so violently as to draw blood. + +[Footnote 36: "No woman, of what rank soever, is permitted to go into +the streets without two muslins; one that covers her face all but her +eyes, and another that hides the whole dress of her head, and hangs +halfway down her back. Their shapes are also wholly concealed by a +thing they call a _ferigee_, which no woman appears without. This has +straight sleeves, that reach to their finger ends, and it laps all +round them, not unlike a riding-hood. In winter it is of cloth, and in +summer, of plain stuff or silk."--Lady M. W. Montague's _Letters_, +Vol. VII, p. 373.] + +The pain and my surprise were so great that I fell down in a swoon, +and continued insensible so long that the merchant had time to escape. +When I came to myself I found my cheek covered with blood. The old +woman and my slaves took care to cover it with my veil, and the people +who came about us could not perceive it, but supposed I had only had a +fainting fit. + +The old woman who accompanied me being extremely troubled at this +accident, endeavored to comfort me. + +"My dear mistress," said she, "I beg your pardon, for I am the cause +of this misfortune, having brought you to this merchant, because he +is my countryman; but I never thought he would be guilty of such a +villainous action. But do not grieve. Let us hasten home, and I will +apply a remedy that shall in three days so perfectly cure you that not +the least mark shall be visible." + +The pain had made me so weak that I was scarcely able to walk. But at +last I got home, where I again fainted, as I went into my chamber. +Meanwhile, the old woman applied her remedy. I came to myself, and +went to bed. + +My husband came to me at night, and seeing my head bound up, asked me +the reason. I told him I had the headache, which I hoped would have +satisfied him; but he took a candle, and saw my cheek was hurt. + +"How comes this wound?" he said. + +Though I did not consider myself as guilty of any great offense, yet I +could not think of owning the truth. Besides, to make such an avowal +to a husband, I considered as somewhat indecorous. + +I therefore said, "That as I was going, under his permission, to +purchase a silk stuff, a camel,[37] carrying a load of wood, came so +near to me in a narrow street, that one of the sticks grazed my cheek, +but had not done me much hurt." + +"If that is the case," said my husband, "to-morrow morning, before +sunrise, the grand vizier Giafar shall be informed of this insolence, +and cause all the camel drivers to be put to death." + +"Pray, sir," said I, "let me beg of you to pardon them, for they are +not guilty." + +[Footnote 37: The streets of Eastern cities are often so narrow as to +be blocked up with a wide camel load, or to prevent two horsemen +riding abreast. This is the cause of those footmen who run before +great men to prepare the way for them.] + +"How, madam," he demanded, "what, then, am I to believe? Speak; for I +am resolved to know the truth from your own mouth." + +"Sir," I replied, "I was taken with a giddiness, and fell down, and +that is the whole matter." + +At these words my husband lost all patience. + +"I have," said he, "too long listened to your tales." + +As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and in came three slaves. "Strike," +said he; "cut her in two, and then throw her into the Tigris. This is +the punishment I inflict on those to whom I have given my heart, when +they falsify their promise." + +I had recourse to entreaties and prayers; but I supplicated in vain, +when the old woman, who had been his nurse, coming in just at that +moment, fell down upon her knees and endeavored to appease his wrath. + +"My son," said she, "since I have been your nurse, and brought you up, +let me beg you to consider, 'he who kills shall be killed,' and that +you will stain your reputation and forfeit the esteem of mankind." + +She spoke these words in such an affecting manner, accompanied with +tears, that she prevailed upon him at last to abandon his purpose. + +"Well, then," said he to his nurse, "for your sake I will spare her +life; but she shall bear about her person some marks to make her +remember her offense." + +When he had thus spoken, one of the slaves, by his order, gave me upon +my sides and breast so many blows[38] with a little cane, that he +tore away both skin and flesh, which threw me into a swoon. In this +state he caused the same slaves, the executioners of his will, to +carry me into the house, where the old woman took care of me. I kept +my bed for four months. At last I recovered. The scars which, contrary +to my wish, you saw yesterday, have remained ever since. + +[Footnote 38: The Mussulmans are allowed by the Koran to beat their +wives, so long as they do not make a bruise. The husband on this +occasion must have broken the law. + +Some such permission was given by an English judge, Sir John Buller; +who declared the stick used must not be thicker than his thumb, from +whence he obtained the sobriquet of "Thumb Buller."] + +As soon as I was able to walk and go abroad, I resolved to retire to +the house which was left me by my first husband, but I could not find +the site whereon it stood, as my second husband had caused it to be +leveled with the ground. + +Being thus left destitute and helpless, I had recourse to my dear +sister Zobeide. She received me with her accustomed goodness, and +advised me to bear with patience my affliction, from which, she said, +none are free. In confirmation of her remark, she gave me an account +of the loss of the young prince her husband, occasioned by the +jealousy of her two sisters. She told me also by what accident they +were transformed into dogs; and in the last place, after a thousand +testimonials of her love toward me, she introduced me to my youngest +sister, who had likewise taken sanctuary with her after the death of +her mother; and we have continued to live together in the house in +which we received the guests whom your highness found assembled on +your visit last night. + + * * * * * + +The caliph publicly expressed his admiration of what he had heard, and +inquired of Zobeide, "Madam, did not this fairy whom you delivered, +and who imposed such a rigorous command upon you, tell you where her +place of abode was, or that she would restore your sisters to their +natural shape?" + +"Commander of the Faithful," answered Zobeide, "the fairy did leave +with me a bundle of hair, saying that her presence would one day be of +use to me; and then, if I only burned two tufts of this hair, she +would be with me in a moment." + +"Madam," demanded the caliph, "where is the bundle of hair?" + +She answered, "Ever since that time I have been so careful of it that +I always carry it about me." + +Upon which she pulled it out of the case which contained it, and +showed it to him. + +"Well, then," said the caliph, "let us bring the fairy hither; you +could not call her in a better time, for I long to see her." + +Zobeide having consented, fire was brought in, and she threw the whole +bundle of hair into it. The palace at that instant began to shake, and +the fairy appeared before the caliph in the form of a lady very richly +dressed. + +"Commander of the Faithful," said she to the prince, "you see I am +ready to receive your commands. At your wish I will not only restore +these two sisters to their former shape, but I will also cure this +lady of her scars, and tell you who it was that abused her." + +The caliph sent for the two dogs from Zobeide's house, and when they +came a glass of water was brought to the fairy by her desire. She +pronounced over it some words, which nobody understood; then, throwing +some part of it upon Amina and the rest upon the dogs, the latter +became two ladies of surprising beauty, and the scars that were upon +Amina disappeared. + +After this the fairy said to the caliph, "Commander of the Faithful, I +must now discover to you the unknown husband you inquire after. He is +Prince Amin, your eldest son, who by stratagem brought this lady to +his house, where he married her. As to the blows he caused to be given +her, he is in some measure excusable; for this lady, his spouse, by +the excuses she made, led him to believe she was more in fault than +she really was." + +At these words she saluted the caliph, and vanished. + +The caliph, much satisfied with the changes that had happened through +his means, acted in such a manner as will perpetuate his memory to all +ages. First, he sent for his son Amin, and told him that he was +informed of his secret marriage and how he had ill-treated Amina upon +a very slight cause. Upon this, the prince, upon his father's +commands, received her again immediately. + +After which Haroun al Raschid declared that he would give his own +heart and hand to Zobeide, and offered the other three sisters to the +calenders, sons of sultans, who accepted them for their brides with +much joy. The caliph assigned each of them a magnificent palace in the +city of Bagdad, promoted them to the highest dignities of his empire, +and admitted them to his councils. + +The chief cadi of Bagdad being called, with witnesses, he wrote the +contracts of marriage; and the caliph, in promoting by his patronage +the happiness of many persons who had suffered such incredible +calamities, drew a thousand blessings upon himself. + + +STORY OF THE THREE SISTERS + +There was an emperor of Persia, named Khoonoo-shah. He often walked in +disguise through the city, attended by a trusty minister, when he met +with many adventures. On one of these occasions, as he was passing +through a street in that part of the town inhabited only by the meaner +sort, he heard some people talking very loud; and going close to the +house whence the noise proceeded, he perceived a light, and three +sisters sitting on a sofa, conversing together after supper. By what +the eldest said, he presently understood the subject of their +conversation was wishes: "For," said she, "since we have got upon +wishes, mine shall be to have the sultan's baker for my husband, for +then I shall eat my fill of that bread which by way of excellence is +called the sultan's. Let us see if your tastes are as good as mine." + +"For my part," replied the second sister, "I wish I was wife to the +sultan's chief cook, for then I should eat of the most excellent +dishes; and, as I believe the sultan's bread is common in the palace, +I should not want any of that. Therefore, you see," addressing herself +to her eldest sister, "that I have better taste than you." + +The youngest sister, who was very beautiful, and had more charms and +wit than the two elder, spoke in her turn: "For my part, sisters," +said she, "I shall not limit my desires to such trifles, but take a +higher flight; and since we are upon wishing, I wish to be the +emperor's queen consort. I would make him father of a prince whose +hair should be gold on one side of his head, and silver on the other; +when he cried, the tears from his eyes should be pearl; and when he +smiled, his vermilion lips should look like a rose-bud fresh blown." + +The three sisters' wishes, particularly that of the youngest, seemed +so singular to the sultan that he resolved to gratify them in their +desires; but without communicating his design to his grand vizier he +charged him only to take notice of the house, and bring the three +sisters before him the following day. + +The grand vizier, in executing the emperor's orders, would give the +sisters but just time to dress themselves to appear before him, +without telling them the reason. He brought them to the palace and +presented them to the emperor, who said to them, "Do you remember the +wishes you expressed last night, when you were all in so pleasant a +mood? Speak the truth; I must know what they were." + +At these unexpected words of the emperor the three sisters were much +confounded. They cast down their eyes and blushed. Modesty, and fear +lest they might have offended the emperor by their conversation, kept +them silent. + +The emperor, perceiving their confusion, said, to encourage them, +"Fear nothing; I did not send for you to distress you; and since I see +that, without my intending it, is the effect of the question I asked, +as I know the wish of each I will relieve you from your fears. You," +added he, "who wished to be my wife shall have your desire this day; +and you," continued he, addressing himself to the two elder sisters, +"shall also be married, to my chief baker and cook." + +[Illustration: _The gardener, with a rake which he had in his hand, +drew the basket to the side of the canal Page 122_] + +The nuptials were all celebrated that day, as the emperor had +resolved, but in a different manner. The youngest sister's were +solemnized with all the rejoicings usual at the marriages of the +emperors of Persia; and those of the other two sisters according to +the quality and distinction of their husbands; the one as the sultan's +chief baker, and the other as head cook. + +The two elder sisters felt strongly the disproportion of their +marriages to that of their younger sister. This consideration made +them far from being content, though they were arrived at the utmost +height of their late wishes, and much beyond their hopes. They gave +themselves up to an excess of jealousy, and frequently met together to +consult how they might revenge themselves on the queen. They proposed +a great many ways, which they could not accomplish, but dissimulated +all the time to flatter the queen with every demonstration of +affection and respect. + +Some months after her marriage, the queen gave birth to a young +prince, as bright as the day; but her sisters, to whom the child was +given at his birth, wrapped him up in a basket and floated it away on +a canal that ran near the palace, and declared that the queen had +given birth to a little dog. This made the emperor very angry. + +In the meantime, the basket in which the little prince was exposed was +carried by the stream toward the garden of the palace. By chance the +intendant of the emperor's gardens, one of the principal and most +considerable officers of the kingdom, was walking by the side of this +canal, and perceiving a basket floating called to a gardener, who was +not far off, to bring it to shore that he might see what it contained. +The gardener, with a rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket +to the side of the canal, took it up, and gave it to him. + +The intendant of the gardens was extremely surprised to see in the +basket a child, which, though he knew it could be but just born, had +very fine features. This officer had been married several years, but +though he had always been desirous of having children, Heaven had +never blessed him with any. He made the gardener follow him with the +child; and when he came to his own house, which was situated at the +entrance into the gardens of the palace, went into his wife's +apartment. "Wife," said he, "as we have no children of our own, God +hath sent us one. I recommend him to you; provide him a nurse, and +take as much care of him as if he were our own son; for, from this +moment, I acknowledge him as such." The intendant's wife received the +child with great joy. + +The following year the queen consort gave birth to another prince, on +whom the unnatural sisters had no more compassion than on his brother; +but exposed him likewise in a basket, and set him adrift in the canal, +pretending this time that the sultaness was delivered of a cat. It was +happy also for this child that the intendant of the gardens was +walking by the canal side. He carried this child to his wife, and +charged her to take as much care of it as of the former, which was as +agreeable to her inclination as it was to that of the intendant. + +This time the Emperor of Persia was more enraged against the queen +than before, and she had felt the effects of his anger, as the grand +vizier's remonstrances had not prevailed. + +The next year the queen gave birth to a princess, which innocent babe +underwent the same fate as the princes her brothers; for the two +sisters, being determined not to desist from their detestable schemes +till they had seen the queen their younger sister at least cast off, +turned out, and humbled, exposed this infant also on the canal. But +the princess, as had been the two princes her brothers, preserved from +death by the compassion and charity of the intendant of the gardens. + +To this inhumanity the two sisters added a lie and deceit, as before. +They procured a piece of wood, of which they said the queen had been +delivered. + +Khoonoo-shah could no longer contain himself at this third +disappointment. He ordered a small shed to be built near the chief +mosque, and the queen to be confined in it, so that she might be +subjected to the scorn of those who passed by; which usage, as she did +not deserve it, she bore with a patient resignation that excited the +admiration as well as compassion of those who judged of things better +than the vulgar. + +The two princes and the princess were in the meantime nursed and +brought up by the intendant of the gardens and his wife with all the +tenderness of a father and mother; and as they advanced in age, they +all showed marks of superior dignity, by a certain air which could +only belong to exalted birth. All this increased the affection of the +intendant and his wife, who called the eldest prince Bahman, and the +second Perviz, both of them names of the most ancient emperors of +Persia, and the princess Perie-zadeh, which name also had been borne +by several queens and princesses of the kingdom.[39] + +[Footnote 39: Parizadeh, the Parisatis of the Greeks, signifies born +of a fairy.--D'Herbelot.] + +As soon as the two princes were old enough, the intendant provided +proper masters to teach them to read and write; and the princess, +their sister, who was often with them--showing a great desire to +learn--the intendant, pleased with her quickness, employed the same +master to teach her also. Her emulation, vivacity, and wit made her in +a little time as proficient as her brothers. At the hours of +recreation, the princess learned to sing and to play upon all sorts of +instruments; and when the princes were learning to ride, she would not +permit them to have that advantage over her, but went through all the +exercises with them, learning to ride also, to bend the bow, and dart +the reed or javelin, and oftentimes outdid them in the race and other +contests of agility. + +The intendant of the gardens was so overjoyed to find his adopted +children so well requited the expense he had been at in their +education, that he resolved to be at a still greater; for as he had +till then been content only with his lodge at the entrance to the +garden, and kept no country house, he purchased a country seat at a +short distance from the city, surrounded by a large tract of arable +land, meadows, and woods, and furnished it in the richest manner, and +added gardens, according to a plan drawn by himself, and a large park, +stocked with fallow deer, that the princes and princess might divert +themselves with hunting when they chose. + +When this country seat was finished, the intendant of the gardens went +and cast himself at the emperor's feet, and after representing his +long service and the infirmities of age, which he found growing upon +him, begged permission to resign his charge and retire. The emperor +gave him leave, and asked what he should do to recompense him. "Sire," +replied the intendant of the gardens, "I have received so many +obligations from your majesty and the late emperor your father, of +happy memory, that I desire no more than the honor of being assured of +your continued favor." + +He took his leave of the emperor, and retired with the two princes and +the princess to the country retreat he had built. His wife had been +dead some years, and he himself had not lived in his new abode above +six months when he was surprised by so sudden a death that he had not +time to give them the least account of the manner in which he had +saved them from destruction. + +The Princes Bahman and Perviz, and the Princess Perie-zadeh, who knew +no other father than the intendant of the emperor's gardens, regretted +and bewailed him as such, and paid all the honors in his funeral +obsequies which love and filial gratitude required of them. Satisfied +with the plentiful fortune he had left them, they lived together in +perfect union, free from the ambition of distinguishing themselves at +court, or aspiring to places of honor and dignity, which they might +easily have obtained. + +One day when the two princes were hunting, and the princess had +remained at home, an old woman, a devotee, came to the gate, and +desired leave to go in to say her prayers, it being then the hour. The +servants asked the princess's permission, who ordered them to show her +into the oratory, which the intendant of the emperor's gardens had +taken care to fit up in his house, for want of a mosque in the +neighborhood. After the good woman had finished her prayers, she was +brought before the princess in the great hall, which in beauty and +richness exceeded all the other apartments. + +As soon as the princess saw the devout woman, she asked her many +questions upon the exercise of devotion which she practiced, and how +she lived; all which were answered with great modesty. Talking of +several things, at last she asked the woman what she thought of the +house, and how she liked it. + +"Madam," answered the devout woman, "if you will give me leave to +speak my mind freely, I will take the liberty to tell you that this +house would be incomparable if it had three things which are wanting +to complete it. The first of these three things is the speaking-bird, +so singular a creature that it draws around it all the singing-birds +in the neighborhood, which come to accompany his song. The second is +the singing-tree, the leaves of which are so many mouths, which form +an harmonious concert of different voices, and never cease. The third +is the yellow-water of a gold color, a single drop of which being +poured into a vessel properly prepared, it increases so as to fill it +immediately, and rises up in the middle like a fountain, which +continually plays, and yet the basin never overflows." + +"Ah! my good mother," cried the princess, "how much am I obliged to +you for the knowledge of these curiosities! They are surprising, and I +never before heard there were such wonderful rarities in the world; +but as I am persuaded that you know, I expect that you will do me the +favor to inform me where they are to be found." + +"Madam," replied the good woman, "I am glad to tell you that these +curiosities are all to be met with in the same spot on the confines +of this kingdom, toward India. The road lies before your house, and +whoever you send needs but follow it for twenty days, and on the +twentieth let him only ask the first person he meets where the +speaking-bird, singing-tree, and yellow-water are, and he will be +informed." + +After saying this she rose from her seat, took her leave, and went her +way. + +The Princess Perie-zadeh's thoughts were so absorbed in her desire to +obtain possession of these three wonders, that her brothers, on their +return from hunting, instead of finding her lively and gay, as she +used to be, were amazed to see her pensive and melancholy, and weighed +down by some trouble. + +"Sister," said Prince Bahman, "what has become of all your mirth and +gayety? Are you not well? Or has some misfortune befallen you? Tell us +that we may give you some relief." + +The princess at first returned no answer to these inquiries; but on +being pressed by her brothers, thus replied: "I always believed that +this house which our father built us was so complete that nothing was +wanting. But this day I have learned that it wants three rarities, the +speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and the yellow-water. If it had +these, no country seat in the world could be compared with it." Then +she informed them wherein consisted the excellency of these rarities, +and requested her brothers to send some trustworthy person in search +of these three curiosities. + +"Sister," replied Prince Bahman, "it is enough that you have an +earnest desire for the things you mention to oblige us to try to +obtain them. I will take that charge upon myself; only tell me the +place, and the way to it, and I will set out to-morrow. You, brother, +shall stay at home with our sister, and I commend her to your care." + +Prince Bahman spent the remainder of the day in making preparations +for his journey, and informing himself from the princess of the +directions which the devout woman had left her. The next morning he +mounted his horse, and Perviz and the princess embraced him and wished +him a good journey. But in the midst of their adieus, the princess +recollected what she had not thought of before. + +"Brother," said she, "I had quite forgotten the perils to which you +may be exposed. Who knows whether I shall ever see you again! Alight, +I beseech you, and give up this journey. I would rather be deprived of +the sight and possession of the speaking-bird, singing-tree, and +yellow-water, than run the risk of never seeing you more." + +"Sister," replied Bahman, smiling at the sudden fears of the princess, +"my resolution is fixed, and you must allow me to execute it. However, +as events are uncertain, and I may fail in this undertaking, all I can +do is to leave you this knife. It has a peculiar property. If when you +pull it out of the sheath it is clean as it is now, it will be a sign +that I am alive; but if you find it stained with blood, then you may +believe me to be dead." + +The princess could prevail nothing more with Bahman. He bade adieu to +her and Prince Perviz for the last time, and rode away. When he got +into the road, he never turned to the right hand nor to the left, but +went directly forward toward India. The twentieth day he perceived on +the roadside a very singular old man, who sat under a tree some small +distance from a thatched house, which was his retreat from the +weather. + +His eyebrows were as white as snow, as was also his beard, which was +so long as to cover his mouth, while it reached down to his feet. The +nails of his hands and feet were grown to an immense length; a flat +broad umbrella covered his head. He wore no clothes, but only a mat +thrown round his body. + +This old man was a dervish, for many years retired from the world, and +devoted to contemplation, so that at last he became what we have +described. + +Prince Bahman, who had been all that morning expecting to meet some +one who could give him information of the place he was in search of, +stopped when he came near the dervish, alighted, in conformity to the +directions which the devout woman had given the Princess Perie-zadeh, +and, leading his horse by the bridle, advanced toward him, and +saluting him, said, "God prolong your days, good father, and grant you +the accomplishment of your desires." + +The dervish returned the prince's salutation, but spoke so +unintelligibly that he could not understand one word he said. Prince +Bahman perceiving that this difficulty proceeded from the dervish's +hair hanging over his mouth, and unwilling to go any farther without +the instructions he wanted, pulled out a pair of scissors he had about +him, and having tied his horse to a branch of the tree, said, "Good +dervish, I want to have some talk with you, but your hair prevents my +understanding what you say, and if you will consent, I will cut off +some part of it and of your eyebrows, which disfigure you so much +that you look more like a bear than a man." + +The dervish did not oppose the offer; and when the prince had cut off +as much hair as he thought fit, he perceived that the dervish had a +good complexion, and that he did not seem so very old. + +"Good dervish," said he, "if I had a glass I would show you how young +you look: you are now a man, but before nobody could tell what you +were." + +The kind behavior of Prince Bahman made the dervish smile, and return +his compliment. + +"Sir," said he, "whoever you are, I am obliged by the good office you +have performed, and am ready to show my gratitude by doing anything in +my power for you. Tell me wherein I may serve you." + +"Good dervish," replied Prince Bahman, "I am in search of the +speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and the yellow-water. I know these +three rarities are not far from here, but cannot tell exactly the +place where they are to be found; if you know, I conjure you to show +me the way, that I may not lose my labor after so long a journey." + +The prince, while he spoke, observed that the dervish changed +countenance, held down his eyes, looked very serious, and instead of +making any reply, remained silent: which obliged him to say to him +again, "Good father, tell me whether you know what I ask you, that I +may not lose my time, but inform myself somewhere else." + +At last the dervish broke silence. "Sir," said he to Prince Bahman, "I +know the way you ask of me; but the danger you are going to expose +yourself to is greater than you may suppose. A number of gentlemen of +as much bravery and courage as yourself have passed this way, and +asked me the same question. I can assure you they have all perished, +for I have not seen one come back. Therefore, if you have any regard +for your life, take my advice, go no farther, but return home." + +"Nothing," replied Prince Bahman to the dervish, "shall make me change +my intention. Whoever attacks me, I am brave and well armed." + +"But they who will attack you are not to be seen," said the dervish. +"How will you defend yourself against invisible persons?" + +"It is no matter," answered the prince; "all you can say shall not +persuade me to forego my purpose. Since you know the way, I once more +conjure you to inform me." + +When the dervish found he could not prevail upon Prince Bahman to +relinquish his journey, he put his hand into a bag that lay by him and +pulled out a bowl, which he presented to him. "Since you will not be +led by my advice," said he, "take this bowl: when you have mounted +your horse, throw it before you, and follow it to the foot of a +mountain. There, as soon as the bowl stops, alight, leave your horse +with the bridle over his neck, and he will stand in the same place +till you return. As you ascend you will see on your right and left a +great number of large black stones, and will hear on all sides a +confusion of voices, which will utter a thousand injurious threats to +discourage you, and prevent your reaching the summit of the mountain. +Be not afraid; but above all things, do not turn your head to look +behind you; for in an instant you will be changed into such a black +stone as those you see, which are all youths who have failed in this +enterprise. If you escape the danger, of which I give you but a faint +idea, and get to the top of the mountain, you will see a cage, and in +that cage is the bird you seek; ask him which are the singing-tree and +the yellow-water, and he will tell you. I have nothing more to say, +except to beg you again not to expose your life, for the difficulty is +almost insuperable." + +After these words, the prince mounted his horse, took his leave of the +dervish with a respectful salute, and threw the bowl before him. + +The bowl rolled away unceasingly, with as much swiftness as when +Prince Bahman first hurled it from his hand, which obliged him to put +his horse to the gallop to avoid losing sight of it, and when it had +reached the foot of the mountain it stopped. The prince alighted from +his horse, laid the bridle on his neck, and, having first surveyed the +mountain and seen the black stones, began to ascend. He had not gone +four steps before he heard the voices mentioned by the dervish, though +he could see nobody. Some one said, "Where is he going?" "What would +he have?" "Do not let him pass"; others, "Stop him," "Catch him," +"Kill him"; and others, with a voice like thunder, "Thief!" +"Assassin!" "Murderer!" while some, in a gibing tone, cried, "No, no, +do not hurt him; let the pretty fellow pass. The cage and bird are +kept for him." + +Notwithstanding all these troublesome voices, Prince Bahman ascended +with courage and resolution for some time, but the voices redoubled +with so loud a din near him, both behind, before, and on all sides, +that at last he was seized with dread, his legs trembled under him, he +staggered, and finding that his strength failed him, he forgot the +dervish's advice, turned about to run down the hill, and was that +instant changed into a black stone. His horse likewise, at the same +moment, underwent the same change. + +From the time of Prince Bahman's departure, the Princess Perie-zadeh +always wore the knife and sheath in her girdle, and pulled it out +several times a day, to know whether her brother was yet alive. She +had the consolation to find he was in perfect health, and to talk of +him frequently with Prince Perviz. + +On the fatal day that Prince Bahman was transformed into a stone, as +Prince Perviz and the princess were talking together in the evening, +as usual, the prince desired his sister to pull out the knife to know +how their brother did. The princess readily complied, and seeing the +blood run down the point, was seized with so much horror that she +threw it down. + +"Ah! my dear brother," cried she, "woe's me! I have been the cause of +your death, and shall never see you more! Why did I tell you of the +speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and yellow-water! Why did I allow my +peace to be disturbed by the idle tales of a silly old woman!" + +Prince Perviz was as much afflicted at the death of Prince Bahman as +the princess; but as he knew that she still passionately desired +possession of the speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and the +golden-water, he interrupted her, saying, "Sister, our regret for our +brother is vain and useless; our grief and lamentations cannot restore +him to life. It is the will of God. We must submit to it, and adore +the decrees of the Almighty without searching into them. Why should +you now doubt of the truth of what the holy woman told you? Our +brother's death is probably owing to some error on his part. I am +determined to know the truth, and am resolved myself to undertake this +search. To-morrow I shall set out." + +The princess did all she could to dissuade Prince Perviz, conjuring +him not to expose her to the danger of losing two brothers; but all +the remonstrances she could urge had no effect upon him. Before he +went, that she might know what success he had, he left her a string of +a hundred pearls, telling her, that if they would not run when she +should count them upon the string, but remain fixed, that would be a +certain sign he had undergone the same fate as his brother; but at the +same time told her he hoped it would never happen, but that he should +have the happiness to see her again to their mutual satisfaction. + +Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day after his departure, met the same +dervish in the same place as had his brother Bahman before him, and +asked of him the same question. The dervish urged the same +difficulties and remonstrances as he had done to Prince Bahman, +telling him that a young gentleman, who very much resembled him, was +with him a short time before, and had not yet returned. + +"Good dervish," answered Prince Perviz, "I know whom you speak of; he +was my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty of his death, +but know not the cause." + +"I can tell you," replied the dervish. "He was changed into a black +stone, as all I speak of have been; and you must expect the same fate +unless you observe more exactly than he has done the advice I gave +him; but I once more entreat you to renounce your resolution." + +"Dervish," said Prince Perviz, "I cannot sufficiently express how much +I am obliged to you for your kind caution; but I cannot now relinquish +this enterprise; therefore I beg of you to do me the same favor you +have done my brother." + +On this the dervish gave the prince a bowl with the same instructions +he had delivered to his brother, and so let him depart. + +Prince Perviz thanked the dervish, and when he had remounted, and +taken leave, threw the bowl before his horse, and spurring him at the +same time, followed it. When the bowl came to the bottom of the hill +it stopped, the prince alighted, and stood some time to recollect the +dervish's directions. He encouraged himself, and then began to walk up +with a determination to reach the summit; but before he had gone above +six steps, he heard a voice, which seemed to be near, as of a man +behind him, say in an insulting tone, "Stay, rash youth, that I may +punish you for your presumption." + +Upon this affront, the prince, forgetting the dervish's advice, +clapped his hand upon his sword, drew it, and turned about to avenge +himself; but had scarcely time to see that nobody followed him before +he and his horse were changed into black stones. + +In the meantime, the Princess Perie-zadeh, several times a day after +her brother's departure, counted her chaplet. She did not omit it at +night, but when she went to bed put it about her neck; and in the +morning when she awoke counted over the pearls again to see if they +would slide. + +The day that Prince Perviz was transformed into a stone she was +counting over the pearls as she used to do, when all at once they +became immovably fixed, a certain token that the prince, her brother, +was dead. As she had determined what to do in case it should so +happen, she lost no time in outward demonstrations of grief, but +proceeded at once to put her plan into execution. She disguised +herself in her brother's robes, and having procured arms and equipment +she mounted her horse the next morning. Telling her servants she +should return in two or three days, she took the same road as her +brothers. + +On the twentieth day she also met the dervish as her brothers had +done, and asked him the same question and received from him the same +answer, with a caution against the folly of sacrificing her life in +such a search. + +When the dervish had done, the princess replied, "By what I comprehend +from your discourse, the difficulties of succeeding in this affair +are, first, the getting up to the cage without being frightened at the +terrible din of voices I shall hear; and, secondly, not to look behind +me. For this last direction, I hope I shall be mistress enough of +myself to observe it. As to the first, I desire to know of you if I +may use a stratagem against those voices which you describe, and which +are so well calculated to excite terror." + +"And what stratagem is it you would employ?" said the dervish. + +"To stop my ears with cotton," answered the princess, "that the +voices, however loud and terrible, may make the less impression upon +my imagination, and my mind remain free from that disturbance which +might cause me to lose the use of my reason." + +"Princess," replied the dervish, "if you persist in your design, you +may make the experiment. You will be fortunate if it succeeds; but I +would advise you not to expose yourself to the danger." + +After the princess had thanked the dervish, and taken her leave of +him, she mounted her horse, threw down the bowl which he had given +her, and followed it till it stopped at the foot of the mountain. + +The princess alighted, stopped her ears with cotton, and after she had +well examined the path leading to the summit, began with a moderate +pace, and walked up with intrepidity. She heard the voices, and +perceived the great service the cotton was to her. The higher she +went, the louder and more numerous the voices seemed; but they were +not capable of making any impression upon her. She heard a great many +affronting speeches and insulting accusations, which she only laughed +at. At last she saw the cage and the bird, while at the same moment +the clamor and thunders of the invisible voices greatly increased. + +The princess, encouraged by the sight of the object of which she was +in search, redoubled her speed, and soon gained the summit of the +mountain, where the ground was level; then running directly to the +cage, and clapping her hand upon it, cried, "Bird, I have you, and you +shall not escape me." + +At the same moment the voices ceased. + +While Perie-zadeh was pulling the cotton out of her ears the bird said +to her, "Heroic princess, since I am destined to be a slave, I would +rather be yours than any other person's, since you have obtained me so +courageously. From this instant I pay an entire submission to all your +commands. I know who you are, for you are not what you seem, and I +will one day tell you more. In the meantime, say what you desire, and +I am ready to obey you." + +"Bird," said Perie-zadeh, "I have been told that there is not far off +a golden-water, the property of which is very wonderful; before all +things, I ask you to tell me where it is." + +The bird showed her the place, which was just by, and she went and +filled a little silver flagon which she had brought with her. She +returned to the bird, and said, "Bird, this is not enough; I want also +the singing-tree. Tell me where it is." + +"Turn about," said the bird, "and you will see behind you a wood, +where you will find this tree. Break off a branch, and carry it to +plant in your garden; it will take root as soon as it is put into the +earth, and in a little time will grow to a fine tree." + +The princess went into the wood, and by the harmonious concert she +heard, soon discovered the singing-tree. + +When the princess had obtained possession of the branch of the +singing-tree, she returned again to the bird, and said, "Bird, what +you have yet done for me is not sufficient. My two brothers, in their +search for thee, have been transformed into black stones on the side +of the mountain. Tell me how I may obtain their dis-enchantment." + +The bird seemed most reluctant to inform the princess on this point; +but on her threatening to take his life, he bade her sprinkle every +stone on her way down the mountain with a little of the water from the +golden fountain. She did so, and every stone she thus touched resumed +the shape of a man or of a horse ready caparisoned. Among these were +her two brothers, Bahman and Perviz, who exchanged with her the most +affectionate embraces. + +Having explained to her brothers and the band of noble youths who had +been enchanted in their search after these three wonders, the means of +their recovery, Perie-zadeh placed herself at their head, and bade +them follow her to the old dervish, to thank him for his reception and +wholesome advice, which they had all found to be sincere. But he was +dead, whether from old age or because he was no longer needed to show +the way to the obtaining the three rarities which the Princess +Perie-zadeh had secured, did not appear. The procession, headed by +Perie-zadeh, pursued its route, but lessened in its numbers every day. +The youths, who had come from different countries, took leave of the +princess and her brothers one after another, as they approached the +various roads by which they had come. + +As soon as the princess reached home, she placed the cage in the +garden; and the bird no sooner began to warble than he was surrounded +by nightingales, chaffinches, larks, linnets, goldfinches, and every +species of birds of the country. And the branch of the singing-tree +was no sooner set in the midst of the parterre, a little distance from +the house, than it took root, and in a short time became a large tree, +the leaves of which gave as harmonious a concert as those of the tree +from which it was gathered. A large basin of beautiful marble was +placed in the garden; and when it was finished the princess poured +into it all the yellow-water from the flagon, which instantly +increased and swelled so much that it soon reached up to the edges of +the basin, and afterward formed in the middle a fountain twenty feet +high which fell again into the basin perpetually without running over. + +The report of these wonders was presently spread abroad, and as the +gates of the house and those of the gardens were shut to nobody, a +great number of people came to admire them. + +Some days after, when the Princes Bahman and Perviz had recovered from +the fatigue of their journey, they resumed their former way of living; +and as their usual diversion was hunting, they mounted their horses +and went for the first time since their return, not to their own +demesne, but two or three leagues from their house. As they pursued +their sport, the Emperor of Persia came in pursuit of game upon the +same ground. When they perceived by the number of horsemen in +different places that he would soon be up, they resolved to +discontinue their chase, and retire to avoid encountering him; but in +the very road they took they chanced to meet him in so narrow a way +that they could not retreat without being seen. In their surprise they +had only time to alight, and prostrate themselves before the emperor. +He stopped and commanded them to rise. The princes rose up, and stood +before him with an easy and graceful air. The emperor, after he had +admired their good air and mien, asked them who they were, and where +they lived. + +"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we are the sons of the late intendant of +your majesty's gardens, and live in a house which he built a little +before he died, till it should please you to give us some employment." + +"By what I perceive," replied the emperor, "you love hunting." + +"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "it is our common exercise, and what +none of your majesty's subjects who intend to bear arms in your armies +ought, according to the ancient custom of the kingdom, to neglect." + +The emperor, charmed with so prudent an answer, said, "It is so, and I +should be glad to see your expertness in the chase; choose your own +game." + +The princes mounted their horses again, and followed the emperor; but +had not gone far before they saw many wild beasts together. Prince +Bahman chose a lion, and Prince Perviz a bear; and pursued them with +so much intrepidity, that the emperor was surprised. They came up with +their game nearly at the same time, and darted their javelins with so +much skill and address, that they pierced, the one the lion and the +other the bear, so effectually that the emperor saw them fall one +after the other. Immediately afterward Prince Bahman pursued another +bear, and Prince Perviz another lion, and killed them in a short time, +and would have beaten out for fresh game, but the emperor would not +let them, and sent to them to come to him. + +When they approached, he said, "If I would have given you leave, you +would soon have destroyed all my game; but it is not that which I +would preserve, but your persons; for I am so well assured your +bravery may one time or other be serviceable to me, that from this +moment your lives will be always dear to me." + +The emperor, in short, conceived so great a fondness for the two +princes that he invited them immediately to make him a visit; to which +Prince Bahman replied, "Your majesty does us an honor we do not +deserve; and we beg you will excuse us." + +The emperor, who could not comprehend what reason the princes could +have to refuse this token of his favor, pressed them to tell him why +they excused themselves. + +"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we have a sister younger than ourselves, +with whom we live in such perfect union that we undertake nothing +before we consult her, nor she anything without asking our advice." + +"I commend your brotherly affection," answered the emperor. "Consult +your sister, then meet me here to-morrow, and give me an answer." + +The princes went home, but neglected to speak of their adventure in +meeting the emperor, and hunting with him, and also of the honor he +had done them by asking them to go home with him; yet did not the next +morning fail to meet him at the place appointed. + +"Well," said the emperor, "have you spoken to your sister? And has she +consented to the pleasure I expect of seeing you?" + +The two princes looked at each other and blushed. + +"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we beg your majesty to excuse us; for +both my brother and I forgot." + +"Then remember to-day," replied the emperor, "and be sure to bring me +an answer to-morrow." + +The princes were guilty of the same fault a second time, and the +emperor was so good-natured as to forgive their negligence; but to +prevent their forgetfulness the third time, he pulled three little +golden balls out of a purse, and put them into Prince Bahman's bosom. + +"These balls," said he, smiling, "will prevent you forgetting a third +time what I wish you to do, since the noise they will make by falling +on the floor, when you undress, will remind you, if you do not +recollect it before." + +The event happened just as the emperor foresaw; and without these +balls the princes had not thought of speaking to their sister of this +affair. For as Prince Bahman unloosened his girdle to go to bed the +balls dropped on the floor, upon which he ran into Prince Perviz's +chamber, when both went into the Princess Perie-zadeh's apartment, and +after they had asked her pardon for coming at so unseasonable a time, +they told her all the circumstances of their meeting the emperor. + +The princess was somewhat surprised at this intelligence. "It was on +my account, I know," she said, "you refused the emperor, and I am +infinitely obliged to you for doing so. For, my dear brothers, I know +by this your affection for me is equal to my own. But you know +monarchs will be obeyed in their desires, and it may be dangerous to +oppose them; therefore, if to follow my inclination I should dissuade +you from showing the complaisance the emperor expects from you, it may +expose you to his resentment, and may render myself and you miserable. +These are my sentiments; but before we conclude upon anything let us +consult the speaking-bird, and hear what he says; he is wise, and has +promised his assistance in all difficulties." + +The princess sent for the cage, and after she had related the +circumstances to the bird in the presence of her brothers, asked him +what they should do in this perplexity. + +The bird answered,[40] "The princes, your brothers, must conform to +the emperor's pleasure, and in their turn invite him to come and see +your house." + +[Footnote 40: To understand the language of birds was peculiarly one +of the boasted sciences of the Arabians, who pretend that many of +their countrymen have been skilled in the knowledge of the language of +birds ever since the time of King Solomon. Their writers relate that +Balkis, the Queen of Sheba, had a bird called Hudhud, that is, +lapwing, which was her trusty messenger to King Solomon. D'Herbelot +tells this story of Athejaj, a famous Arabian commander: While he and +a camel driver were talking together, a bird flew over their heads, +making, at the same time, an unusual sort of noise, which the camel +driver hearing, looked steadfastly on Athejaj, and demanded who he +was. Athejaj, not choosing to answer, desired to know the reason of +that question. "Because," replied the camel driver, "this bird assured +me that a company of people is coming this way, and that you are the +chief of them." While he was speaking, Athejaj's attendants +arrived.--_Warton's History of Poetry_, Vol. II, p. 182. Ed. 1840.] + +Next morning the princes met the emperor again, who called and asked +them, while they were yet afar off, if they had remembered to speak to +their sister. Prince Bahman approached, and answered, "Sire, your +majesty may dispose of us as you please. We are ready to obey you; for +we have not only obtained our sister's consent with great ease, but +she took it amiss that we should pay her that deference in a matter +wherein our duty to your majesty was concerned. But if we have +offended, we hope you will pardon us." + +"Do not be uneasy on that account," replied the emperor. "So far from +taking amiss what you have done, I highly approve of your conduct, and +hope you will have the same deference and attachment to my person, if +I have ever so little share in your friendship." + +The princes, confounded at the emperor's goodness, returned no other +answer but a low obeisance, to show the great respect with which they +received it. + +The emperor gave orders to return at once to his palace. He made the +princes ride one on each side of him, an honor which grieved the grand +vizier, who was much mortified to see them preferred before him. + +When the emperor entered his capital, the eyes of the people, who +stood in crowds in the streets, were fixed upon the two Princes Bahman +and Perviz; and they were earnest to know who they might be, +whether foreigners or natives, and many wished that the emperor had +been blessed with two such handsome princes. + +[Illustration: _He presently discovered a gold box, about a foot +square, which he gave into the princess's hands Page 147_] + +The first thing that the emperor did when he arrived at his palace was +to conduct the princes into the principal apartments. With due +discrimination, like persons conversant in such matters, they praised +the beauty and symmetry of the rooms, and the richness of the +furniture and ornaments. Afterward, a magnificent repast was served +up, and the emperor made them sit with him, and was so much pleased +with the wit, judgment, and discernment shown by the two princes that +he said, "Were these my own children, and I had improved their talents +by suitable education, they could not have been more accomplished or +better informed." + +When night approached, the two princes prostrated themselves at the +emperor's feet; and having thanked him for the favors he had heaped +upon them, asked his permission to retire, which was granted by the +emperor. + +Before they went out of the emperor's presence, Prince Bahman said, +"Sire, may we presume to request that you will do us and our sister +the honor to visit us the first time you take the diversion of hunting +in that neighborhood? Our house is not worthy your presence; but +monarchs sometimes have vouchsafed to take shelter in a cottage." + +"My children," replied the emperor, "your house cannot be otherwise +than beautiful, and worthy of its owners. I will call and see it with +pleasure, which will be the greater for having for my hosts you and +your sister, who is already dear to me from the accounts you give me +of the rare qualities with which she is endowed; and this +satisfaction I will defer no longer than to-morrow. Early in the +morning I will be at the place where I shall never forget that I first +saw you. Meet me, and you shall be my guides." + +When the Princes Bahman and Perviz had returned home they gave the +princess an account of the distinguished reception the emperor had +accorded them, and told her that he would call at their house the next +day. + +"If it be so," replied the princess, "we must think of preparing a +repast fit for his majesty; and for that purpose I think it would be +proper we should consult the speaking-bird; he will tell us perhaps +what meats the emperor likes best." + +The princes approved of her plan, and after they had retired, she +consulted the bird alone. + +"Bird," said she, "the emperor will to-morrow come to see our house, +and we are to entertain him. Tell us what we shall do to acquit +ourselves to his satisfaction." + +"Good mistress," replied the bird, "you have excellent cooks; let them +do the best they can. But above all things, let them prepare a dish of +cucumbers stuffed full of pearls, which must be set before the emperor +in the first course, before all the other dishes." + +"Cucumbers stuffed full of pearls!" cried Princess Perie-zadeh, with +amazement. "Surely, bird, you do not know what you say. It is an +unheard-of dish! Besides, all the pearls I possess are not enough for +such a dish." + +"Mistress," said the bird, "do what I say, and as for the pearls, go +early to-morrow morning to the foot of the first tree on your right +hand in the park, dig under it, and you will find more than you want." + +The princess immediately ordered a gardener to be ready to attend her +in the morning, and led him at daybreak to the tree which the bird had +told her of, and bade him dig at its foot. When the gardener came to a +certain depth, he found some resistance to the spade, and presently +discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave into the +princess's hands. As it was fastened only with neat little hasps, she +soon opened it, and found it full of pearls. Very well satisfied with +having found this treasure, after she had shut the box again she put +it under her arm, and went back to the house; while the gardener threw +the earth into the hole at the foot of the tree as it had been before. + +The princess, as she returned to the house, met her two brothers and +gave them an account of her having consulted the bird, and the answer +he had given her to prepare a dish of cucumbers stuffed full of +pearls, and how he had told her where to find this box. The princes +and princess, though they could not by any means guess at the reason +of the bird ordering them to prepare such a dish, yet agreed to follow +his advice exactly. + +As soon as the princess entered the house she called for the head +cook; and after she had given him directions about the entertainment +for the emperor, said to him, "Besides all this, you must dress an +extraordinary dish to set before the emperor himself. This dish must +be of cucumbers stuffed with these pearls." And at the same time she +opened the box and showed him the pearls. + +The chief cook, who had never heard of such a dish, started back, and +could make no reply, but took the box and retired. Afterward the +princess gave directions to all the domestics to have everything in +order, both in house and gardens, to receive the emperor. + +Next day the two princes went to the place appointed; and as soon as +the Emperor of Persia arrived the chase began, which lasted till the +heat of the sun obliged him to leave off. While Prince Bahman stayed +to conduct the emperor to their house, Prince Perviz rode before to +show the way, and when he came in sight of the house, spurred his +horse, to inform the Princess Perie-zadeh that the emperor was +approaching; but she had been told by some attendants whom she had +placed to give notice, and the prince found her waiting ready to +receive him. + +When the emperor had entered the courtyard, and alighted at the +portico, the princess came and threw herself at his feet. + +The emperor stooped to raise her, and after he had gazed some time on +her beauty, said, "The brothers are worthy of the sister, and she is +worthy of them. I am not amazed that the brothers would do nothing +without their sister's consent; but," added he, "I hope to be better +acquainted with you, my daughter, after I have seen the house." + +The princess led the emperor through all the rooms except the hall; +and after he had considered them very attentively and admired their +variety, "My daughter," said he to the princess, "do you call this a +country house? The finest and largest cities would soon be deserted if +all country houses were like yours. I am no longer surprised that you +take so much delight in it, and despise the town. Now let me see the +garden, which I doubt not is answerable to the house." + +The princess opened a door which led into the garden; and conducted +him to the spot where the harmonious tree was planted, and there the +emperor heard a concert, different from all he had ever heard before. +Stopping to see where the musicians were, he could discern nobody far +or near, but still distinctly heard the music, which ravished his +senses. "My daughter," said he to the princess, "where are the +musicians whom I hear? Are they underground, or invisible in the air? +Such excellent performers will lose nothing by being seen; on the +contrary, they would please the more." + +"Sire," answered the princess, smiling, "they are not musicians, but +the leaves of the tree your majesty sees before you, which form this +concert; and if you will give yourself the trouble to go a little +nearer, you will be convinced, for the voices will be the more +distinct." + +The emperor went nearer, and was so charmed with the sweet harmony +that he could never have been tired with hearing it. + +"Daughter," said he, "tell me, I pray you, whether this wonderful tree +was found in your garden by chance, or was a present made to you, or +have you procured it from some foreign country? It must certainly have +come from a great distance, otherwise, curious as I am after natural +rarities, I should have heard of it. What name do you call it by?" + +"Sire," replied the princess, "this tree has no other name than that +of the singing-tree, and is not a native of this country. Its history +is connected with the yellow-water and the speaking-bird, which came +to me at the same time, and which your majesty may see after you have +rested yourself. And if it please you, I will relate to you the +history of these rarities." + +"My daughter," replied the emperor, "my fatigue is so well recompensed +by the wonderful things you have shown me, that I do not feel it the +least. I am impatient to see the yellow-water and to admire the +speaking-bird." + +When the emperor came to the yellow-water his eyes were fixed so +steadfastly upon the fountain that he could not take them off. At +last, addressing himself to the princess, he said, "Whence is this +wonderful water? Where its source? By what art is it made to play so +high that nothing in the world can be compared to it? I conclude that +it is foreign, as well as the singing-tree." + +"Sire," replied the princess, "it is as your majesty conjectures; and +to let you know that this water has no communication with any spring, +I must inform you that the basin is one entire stone, so that the +water cannot come in at the sides or underneath. But what your majesty +will think most wonderful is, that all this water proceeded but from +one small flagon, emptied into this basin, which increased to the +quantity you see, by a property peculiar to itself, and formed this +fountain." + +"Well," said the emperor, going from the fountain, "this is enough for +one time. I promise myself the pleasure to come and visit it often. +Now let us go and see the speaking-bird." + +As he went toward the hall, the emperor perceived a prodigious number +of singing-birds in the trees around, filling the air with their songs +and warblings, and asked why there were so many there, and none on the +other trees in the garden. + +"The reason, sire," answered the princess, "is, because they come from +all parts to accompany the song of the speaking-bird, which your +majesty may see in a cage in one of the windows of the hall we are +approaching; and if you attend, you will perceive that his notes are +sweeter than those of any of the other birds, even the nightingale's." + +The emperor went into the hall; and as the bird continued singing, the +princess raised her voice, and said, "My slave, here is the emperor. +Pay your compliments to him." + +The bird left off singing that instant, all the other birds ceasing +also, and it said, "God save the emperor. May he long live!" + +As the entertainment was served at the sofa near the window where the +bird was placed, the sultan replied, as he was taking his seat, "Bird, +I thank you, and am overjoyed to find in you the sultan and king of +birds." + +As soon as the emperor saw the dish of cucumbers set before him, +thinking it was stuffed in the best manner, he reached out his hand +and took one; but when he cut it, was in extreme surprise to find it +stuffed with pearls. + +"What novelty is this?" said he. "And with what design were these +cucumbers stuffed thus with pearls, since pearls are not to be eaten!" + +He looked at the two princes and the princess to ask them the meaning; +when the bird, interrupting him, said, "Can your majesty be in such +great astonishment at cucumbers stuffed with pearls, which you see +with your own eyes, and yet so easily believe that the queen your wife +was the mother of a dog, a cat, and of a piece of wood?" + +"I believed those things," replied the emperor, "because the nurses +assured me of the facts." + +"Those nurses, sire," replied the bird, "were the queen's two sisters, +who, envious of her happiness in being preferred by your majesty +before them, to satisfy their envy and revenge have abused your +majesty's credulity. If you interrogate them, they will confess their +crime. The two brothers and the sister whom you see before you are +your own children, whom they exposed, and who were saved by the +intendant of your gardens, who adopted and brought them up as his own +children." + +"Bird," cried the emperor, "I believe the truth which you discover to +me. The inclination which drew me to them told me plainly they must be +my own kin. Come then, my sons, come, my daughter, let me embrace you, +and give you the first marks of a father's love and tenderness." + +The emperor then rose, and after having embraced the two princes and +the princess, and mingled his tears with theirs, said, "It is not +enough, my children. You must embrace each other, not as the children +of the intendant of my gardens, to whom I have been so much obliged +for preserving your lives, but as my own children, of the royal blood +of the monarchs of Persia, whose glory, I am persuaded, you will +maintain." + +After the two princes and the princess had embraced mutually with new +satisfaction, the emperor sat down again with them, and finished his +meal in haste; and when he had done, said, "My children, you see in me +your father; to-morrow I will bring the queen your mother. Therefore +prepare to receive her." + +The emperor afterward mounted his horse, and returned with expedition +to his capital. The first thing he did, as soon as he had alighted and +entered his palace, was to command the grand vizier to seize the +queen's two sisters. They were taken from their houses separately, +convicted and condemned, and the fatal sentence was put in execution +within an hour. + +In the meantime the Emperor Khoonoo-shah, followed by all the lords of +his court who were then present, went on foot to the door of the great +mosque; and after he had taken the queen out of the strict confinement +she had languished under for so many years, embracing her in the +miserable condition to which she was then reduced, he said to her, +with tears in his eyes: + +"I come to entreat your pardon for the injustice I have done you, and +to make you the reparation I ought. I have punished your cruel sisters +who put the abominable cheat upon me; and I hope soon to present to +you two accomplished princes and a lovely princess, our children. Come +and resume your former rank, with all the honors which are your due." + +All this was done and said before great crowds of people, who flocked +from all parts at the first news of what was passing, and immediately +spread the joyful intelligence through the city. + +Next morning early the emperor and queen, whose mournful humiliating +dress was changed for magnificent robes, went with all their court to +the house built by the intendant of the gardens, where the emperor +presented the Princes Bahman and Perviz and the Princess Perie-zadeh +to their enraptured mother. + +"These, much injured wife," said he, "are the two princes your sons, +and this the princess your daughter; embrace them with the same +tenderness I have done, since they are worthy both of me and you." + +The tears flowed plentifully down the cheeks of all, but especially of +the queen, from her exceeding joy at having two such princes for her +sons, and such a princess for her daughter, on whose account she had +so long endured the severest afflictions. + +The two princes and the princess had prepared a magnificent repast for +the emperor and queen and their court. As soon as that was over, the +emperor led the queen into the garden, and showed her the +harmonious-tree and the beautiful yellow-fountain. She had already +seen and heard the speaking-bird in his cage, and the emperor had +spared no panegyric in his praise during the repast. + +When there was nothing to detain the emperor any longer, he took +horse, and with the Princes Bahman and Perviz on his right hand, and +the queen and the princess at his left, preceded and followed by all +the officers of his court according to their rank, returned to his +capital. Crowds of people came out to meet them, and with acclamations +of joy ushered them into the city, where all eyes were fixed not only +upon the queen, the two princes, and the princess, but also upon the +bird which the princess carried before her in his cage, admiring his +sweet notes which had drawn all the other birds about him, which +followed him, flying from tree to tree in the country, and from one +housetop to another in the city. + +The Princes Bahman and Perviz and the Princess Perie-zadeh were at +length brought to the palace with this pomp, and nothing was to be +seen or heard all that night but illuminations and rejoicings both in +the palace and in the utmost parts of the city, which lasted for many +days, and extended throughout the empire of Persia. + + + + +THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP + + +In one of the large and rich cities of China there once lived a tailor +named Mustapha. He was very poor. He could hardly, by his daily labor, +maintain himself and his family, which consisted only of his wife and +a son. + +His son, who was called Aladdin,[41] was a very careless and idle +fellow. He was disobedient to his father and mother, and would go out +early in the morning and stay out all day, playing in the streets and +public places with idle children of his own age. + +[Footnote 41: Aladdin signifies "The Nobility of the Religion."--Lane, +Vol. II, p. 285.] + +When he was old enough to learn a trade his father took him into his +own shop, and taught him how to use his needle; but all his father's +endeavors to keep him to his work were vain, for no sooner was his +back turned than the boy was gone for that day. Mustapha chastised +him, but Aladdin was incorrigible, and his father, to his great grief, +was forced to abandon him to his idleness. He was so much troubled +about him, that he fell sick and died in a few months. + +Aladdin, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, +gave himself over entirely to his idle habits, and was never out of +the streets from his companions. This course he followed till he was +fifteen years old, without giving his mind to any useful pursuit, or +the least reflection on what would become of him. As he was one day +playing in the street with his evil associates, according to custom, +a stranger passing by stood to observe him. + +This stranger was a sorcerer, known as the African magician, as he had +been but two days arrived from Africa, his native country. + +The African magician, observing in Aladdin's countenance something +which assured him that he was a fit boy for his purpose, inquired his +name and history of his companions. When he had learned all he desired +to know, he went up to him, and taking him aside from his comrades, +said, "Child, was not your father called Mustapha the tailor?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the boy, "but he has been dead a long time." + +At these words the African magician threw his arms about Aladdin's +neck, and kissed him several times, with tears in his eyes, saying, "I +am your uncle. Your worthy father was my own brother. I knew you at +first sight, you are so like him." + +Then he gave Aladdin a handful of small money, saying, "Go, my son, to +your mother. Give my love to her, and tell her that I will visit her +to-morrow, that I may see where my good brother lived so long, and +ended his days." + +Aladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had given +him. + +"Mother," said he, "have I an uncle?" + +"No, child," replied his mother, "you have no uncle by your father's +side or mine." + +"I am just now come," said Aladdin, "from a man who says he is my +uncle, and my father's brother. He cried, and kissed me, when I told +him my father was dead, and gave me money, sending his love to you, +and promising to come and pay you a visit, that he may see the house +my father lived and died in." + +"Indeed, child," replied the mother, "your father had no brother, nor +have you an uncle." + +The next day the magician found Aladdin playing in another part of the +town, and embracing him as before, put two pieces of gold into his +hand, and said to him, "Carry this, child, to your mother. Tell her +that I will come and see her to-night, and bid her get us something +for supper. But first show me the house where you live." + +Aladdin showed the African magician the house, and carried the two +pieces of gold to his mother, who went out and bought provisions; and +considering she wanted various utensils, borrowed them of her +neighbors. She spent the whole day in preparing the supper; and at +night, when it was ready, said to her son, "Perhaps the stranger knows +not how to find our house; go and bring him, if you meet with him." + +Aladdin was just ready to go, when the magician knocked at the door, +and came in loaded with wine and all sorts of fruits, which he brought +for a dessert. After he had given what he brought into Aladdin's +hands, he saluted his mother, and desired her to show him the place +where his brother Mustapha used to sit on the sofa; and when she had +so done, he fell down, and kissed it several times, crying out, with +tears in his eyes, "My poor brother! how unhappy am I, not to have +come soon enough to give you one last embrace!" + +Aladdin's mother desired him to sit down in the same place, but he +declined. + +"No," said he, "I shall not do that; but give me leave to sit opposite +to it, that although I see not the master of a family so dear to me, I +may at least behold the place where he used to sit." + +When the magician had made choice of a place, and sat down, he began +to enter into discourse with Aladdin's mother. + +"My good sister," said he, "do not be surprised at your never having +seen me all the time you have been married to my brother Mustapha of +happy memory. I have been forty years absent from this country, which +is my native place as well as my late brother's. During that time I +have traveled into the Indies, Persia, Arabia, and Syria, and +afterward crossed over into Africa, where I took up my abode in Egypt. +At last, as it is natural for a man, I was desirous to see my native +country again, and to embrace my dear brother; and finding I had +strength enough to undertake so long a journey, I made the necessary +preparations, and set out. Nothing ever afflicted me so much as +hearing of my brother's death. But God be praised for all things! It +is a comfort for me to find, as it were, my brother in a son, who has +his most remarkable features." + +The African magician, perceiving that the widow wept at the +remembrance of her husband, changed the conversation, and turning +toward her son, asked him, "What business do you follow? Are you of +any trade?" + +At this question the youth hung down his head, and was not a little +abashed when his mother answered, "Aladdin is an idle fellow. His +father, when alive, strove all he could to teach him his trade, but +could not succeed; and since his death, notwithstanding all I can say +to him, he does nothing but idle away his time in the streets, as you +saw him, without considering he is no longer a child; and if you do +not make him ashamed of it, I despair of his ever coming to any good. +For my part, I am resolved, one of these days, to turn him out of +doors, and let him provide for himself." + +After these words, Aladdin's mother burst into tears; and the magician +said, "This is not well, nephew; you must think of helping yourself, +and getting your livelihood. There are many sorts of trades; perhaps +you do not like your father's, and would prefer another; I will +endeavor to help you. If you have no mind to learn any handicraft, I +will take a shop for you, furnish it with all sorts of fine stuffs and +linens; and then with the money you make of them you can lay in fresh +goods, and live in an honorable way. Tell me freely what you think of +my proposal; you shall always find me ready to keep my word." + +This plan just suited Aladdin, who hated work. He told the magician he +had a greater inclination to that business than to any other, and that +he should be much obliged to him for his kindness. "Well, then," said +the African magician, "I will carry you with me to-morrow, clothe you +as handsomely as the best merchants in the city, and afterward we will +open a shop as I mentioned." + +The widow, after his promise of kindness to her son, no longer doubted +that the magician was her husband's brother. She thanked him for his +good intentions; and after having exhorted Aladdin to render himself +worthy of his uncle's favor, she served up supper, at which they +talked of several indifferent matters; and then the magician took his +leave and retired. + +He came again the next day, as he had promised, and took Aladdin with +him to a merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes for different ages +and ranks, ready made, and a variety of fine stuffs, and bade Aladdin +choose those he preferred, which he paid for. + +When Aladdin found himself so handsomely equipped, he returned his +uncle thanks, who thus addressed him: "As you are soon to be a +merchant, it is proper you should frequent these shops, and become +acquainted with them." + +He then showed him the largest and finest mosques, carried him to the +khans or inns where the merchants and travelers lodged, and afterward +to the sultan's palace, where he had free access; and at last brought +him to his own khan, where, meeting with some merchants he had become +acquainted with since his arrival, he gave them a treat, to bring them +and his pretended nephew acquainted. + +This entertainment lasted till night, when Aladdin would have taken +leave of his uncle to go home. The magician would not let him go by +himself, but conducted him to his mother, who, as soon as she saw him +so well dressed, was transported with joy, and bestowed a thousand +blessings upon the magician. + +Early the next morning the magician called again for Aladdin, and said +he would take him to spend that day in the country, and on the next he +would purchase the shop. He then led him out at one of the gates of +the city, to some magnificent palaces, to each of which belonged +beautiful gardens, into which anybody might enter. At every building +he came to he asked Aladdin if he did not think it fine; and the youth +was ready to answer, when any one presented itself, crying out, "Here +is a finer house, uncle, than any we have yet seen." + +By this artifice the cunning magician led Aladdin some way into the +country; and as he meant to carry him farther, to execute his design, +pretending to be tired, he took an opportunity to sit down in one of +the gardens, on the brink of a fountain of clear water which +discharged itself by a lion's mouth of bronze into a basin. + +"Come, nephew," said he, "you must be weary as well as I. Let us rest +ourselves, and we shall be better able to pursue our walk." + +The magician next pulled from his girdle a handkerchief with cakes and +fruit, and during this short repast he exhorted his nephew to leave +off bad company, and to seek that of wise and prudent men, to improve +by their conversation. "For," said he, "you will soon be at man's +estate, and you cannot too early begin to imitate their example." + +When they had eaten as much as they liked, they got up, and pursued +their walk through gardens separated from one another only by small +ditches, which marked out the limits without interrupting the +communication; so great was the confidence the inhabitants reposed in +each other. + +By this means the African magician drew Aladdin insensibly beyond the +gardens, and crossed the country, till they nearly reached the +mountains. + +At last they arrived between two mountains of moderate height and +equal size, divided by a narrow valley, where the magician intended to +execute the design that had brought him from Africa to China. + +"We will go no farther now," said he to Aladdin. "I will show you +here some extraordinary things, which, when you have seen, you will +thank me for; but while I strike a light, gather up all the loose dry +sticks you can see, to kindle a fire with." + +Aladdin found so many dried sticks that he soon collected a great +heap. The magician presently set them on fire; and when they were in a +blaze he threw in some incense, pronouncing several magical words, +which Aladdin did not understand. + +He had scarcely done so when the earth opened just before the +magician, and disclosed a stone with a brass ring fixed in it. Aladdin +was so frightened that he would have run away, but the magician caught +hold of him, and gave him such a box on the ear that he knocked him +down. Aladdin got up trembling, and, with tears in his eyes, said to +the magician, "What have I done, uncle, to be treated in this severe +manner?" + +"I am your uncle," answered the magician; "I supply the place of your +father, and you ought to make no reply. But, child," added he, +softening, "do not be afraid; for I shall not ask anything of you, but +that, if you obey me punctually, you will reap the advantages which I +intend you. Know, then, that under this stone there is hidden a +treasure, destined to be yours, and which will make you richer than +the greatest monarch in the world. No person but yourself is permitted +to lift this stone, or enter the cave; so you must punctually execute +what I may command, for it is a matter of great consequence both to +you and to me." + +Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard, forgot what was past, and +rising said, "Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me. I am ready +to obey." + +"I am overjoyed, child," said the African magician, embracing him. +"Take hold of the ring, and lift up that stone." + +"Indeed, uncle," replied Aladdin, "I am not strong enough; you must +help me." + +"You have no occasion for my assistance," answered the magician; "if I +help you, we shall be able to do nothing. Take hold of the ring, and +lift it up; you will find it will come easily." Aladdin did as the +magician bade him, raised the stone with ease, and laid it on one +side. + +When the stone was pulled up there appeared a staircase about three or +four feet deep, leading to a door. + +"Descend those steps, my son," said the African magician, "and open +that door. It will lead you into a palace, divided into three great +halls. In each of these you will see four large brass cisterns placed +on each side, full of gold and silver; but take care you do not meddle +with them. Before you enter the first hall, be sure to tuck up your +robe, wrap it about you, and then pass through the second into the +third without stopping. Above all things, have a care that you do not +touch the walls so much as with your clothes; for if you do, you will +die instantly. At the end of the third hall you will find a door which +opens into a garden planted with fine trees loaded with fruit. Walk +directly across the garden to a terrace, where you will see a niche +before you, and in that niche a lighted lamp. Take the lamp down and +put it out. When you have thrown away the wick and poured out the +liquor, put it in your waistband and bring it to me. Do not be afraid +that the liquor will spoil your clothes, for it is not oil, and the +lamp will be dry as soon as it is thrown out." + +After these words the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put it +on one of Aladdin's, saying, "It is a talisman against all evil, so +long as you obey me. Go, therefore, boldly, and we shall both be rich +all our lives." + +Aladdin descended the steps, and, opening the door, found the three +halls just as the African magician had described. He went through them +with all the precaution the fear of death could inspire, crossed the +garden without stopping, took down the lamp from the niche, threw out +the wick and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired, put it in +his waistband. But as he came down from the terrace, seeing it was +perfectly dry, he stopped in the garden to observe the trees, which +were loaded with extraordinary fruit of different colors on each tree. +Some bore fruit entirely white, and some clear and transparent as +crystal; some pale red, and others deeper; some green, blue, and +purple, and others yellow; in short, there was fruit of all colors. +The white were pearls; the clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep +red, rubies; the paler, ballas rubies[42]; the green, emeralds; the +blue, turquoises; the purple, amethysts; and the yellow, sapphires. +Aladdin, ignorant of their value, would have preferred figs, or +grapes, or pomegranates; but as he had his uncle's permission, he +resolved to gather some of every sort. Having filled the two new +purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes, he wrapped some +up in the skirts of his vest, and crammed his bosom as full as it +could hold. + +[Footnote 42: Ballas rubies are rubies of the brightest color.] + +Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches of which he knew not +the value, returned through the three halls with the utmost +precaution, and soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where the +African magician awaited him with the utmost impatience. + +As soon as Aladdin saw him, he cried out, "Pray, uncle, lend me your +hand, to help me out." + +"Give me the lamp first," replied the magician; "it will be +troublesome to you." + +"Indeed, uncle," answered Aladdin, "I cannot now; but I will as soon +as I am up." + +The African magician was determined that he would have the lamp before +he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumbered himself so much +with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refused to give it to +him till he was out of the cave. The African magician, provoked at +this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a little of his +incense into the fire, and pronounced two magical words, when the +stone which had closed the mouth of the staircase moved into its +place, with the earth over it in the same manner as it lay at the +arrival of the magician and Aladdin. + +This action of the magician plainly revealed to Aladdin that he was no +uncle of his, but one who designed him evil. The truth was that he had +learned from his magic books the secret and the value of this +wonderful lamp, the owner of which would be made richer than any +earthly ruler, and hence his journey to China. His art had also told +him that he was not permitted to take it himself, but must receive it +as a voluntary gift from the hands of another person. Hence he +employed young Aladdin, and hoped by a mixture of kindness and +authority to make him obedient to his word and will. When he found +that his attempt had failed, he set out to return to Africa, but +avoided the town, lest any person who had seen him leave in company +with Aladdin should make inquiries after the youth. + +Aladdin, being suddenly enveloped in darkness, cried, and called out +to his uncle to tell him he was ready to give him the lamp. But in +vain, since his cries could not be heard. + +He descended to the bottom of the steps, with a design to get into the +palace, but the door, which was opened before by enchantment, was now +shut by the same means. He then redoubled his cries and tears, sat +down on the steps without any hopes of ever seeing light again, and in +an expectation of passing from the present darkness to a speedy death. + +In this great emergency he said, "There is no strength or power but in +the great and high God"; and in joining his hands to pray he rubbed +the ring which the magician had put on his finger. Immediately a genie +of frightful aspect appeared, and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am +ready to obey thee. I serve him who possesses the ring on thy finger; +I, and the other slaves of that ring." + +At another time Aladdin would have been frightened at the sight of so +extraordinary a figure, but the danger he was in made him answer +without hesitation, "Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place." He +had no sooner spoken these words than he found himself on the very +spot where the magician had last left him, and no sign of cave or +opening, nor disturbance of the earth. Returning thanks to God for +being once more in the world, he made the best of his way home. When +he got within his mother's door, joy at seeing her and weakness for +want of sustenance made him so faint that he remained for a long time +as dead. As soon as he recovered, he related to his mother all that +had happened to him, and they were both very vehement in their +complaints of the cruel magician. + +Aladdin slept very soundly till late the next morning, when the first +thing he said to his mother was, that he wanted something to eat, and +wished she would give him his breakfast. + +"Alas! child," said she, "I have not a bit of bread to give you; you +ate up all the provisions I had in the house yesterday; but I have a +little cotton which I have spun; I will go and sell it, and buy bread +and something for our dinner." + +"Mother," replied Aladdin, "keep your cotton for another time, and +give me the lamp I brought home with me yesterday. I will go and sell +it, and the money I shall get for it will serve both for breakfast and +dinner, and perhaps supper too." + +Aladdin's mother took the lamp and said to her son, "Here it is, but +it is very dirty. If it were a little cleaner I believe it would bring +something more." + +She took some fine sand and water to clean it. But she had no sooner +begun to rub it, than in an instant a hideous genie of gigantic size +appeared before her, and said to her in a voice of thunder, "What +wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave +of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I, and the other +slaves of the lamp." + +Aladdin's mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted; when +Aladdin, who had seen such a phantom in the cavern, snatched the lamp +out of his mother's hand, and said to the genie boldly, "I am hungry. +Bring me something to eat." + +The genie disappeared immediately, and in an instant returned with a +large silver tray, holding twelve covered dishes of the same metal, +which contained the most delicious viands; six large white bread cakes +on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silver cups. All these he +placed upon a carpet and disappeared; this was done before Aladdin's +mother recovered from her swoon. + +Aladdin had fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face to +recover her. Whether that or the smell of the meat effected her cure, +it was not long before she came to herself. + +"Mother," said Aladdin, "be not afraid. Get up and eat. Here is what +will put you in heart, and at the same time satisfy my extreme +hunger." + +His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve dishes, +six loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the savory odor +which exhaled from the dishes. + +"Child," said she, "to whom are we obliged for this great plenty and +liberality? Has the sultan been made acquainted with our poverty, and +had compassion on us?" + +"It is no matter, mother," said Aladdin. "Let us sit down and eat; for +you have almost as much need of a good breakfast as I myself. When we +have done, I will tell you." + +Accordingly, both mother and son sat down and ate with the better +relish as the table was so well furnished. But all the time Aladdin's +mother could not forbear looking at and admiring the tray and dishes, +though she could not judge whether they were silver or any other +metal, and the novelty more than the value attracted her attention. + +The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner time, and then +they thought it would be best to put the two meals together. Yet, +after this they found they should have enough left for supper, and two +meals for the next day. + +When Aladdin's mother had taken away and set by what was left, she +went and sat down by her son on the sofa, saying, "I expect now that +you will satisfy my impatience, and tell me exactly what passed +between the genie and you while I was in a swoon." + +He readily complied with her request. + +She was in as great amazement at what her son told her as at the +appearance of the genie, and said to him, "But, son, what have we to +do with genies? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had ever +seen one. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, and not +to you, to whom he had appeared before in the cave?" + +"Mother," answered Aladdin, "the genie you saw is not the one who +appeared to me. If you remember, he that I first saw called himself +the slave of the ring on my finger; and this you saw, called himself +the slave of the lamp you had in your hand; but I believe you did not +hear him, for I think you fainted as soon as he began to speak." + +"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp then the occasion of that +cursed genie's addressing himself to me rather than to you? Ah! my +son, take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. I had +rather you would sell it than run the hazard of being frightened to +death again by touching it; and if you would take my advice, you would +part also with the ring, and not have anything to do with genies, who, +as our prophet has told us, are only devils." + +"With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin, "I shall now take care how +I sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me. That +false and wicked magician would not have undertaken so long a journey +to secure this wonderful lamp if he had not known its value to exceed +that of gold and silver. And since we have honestly come by it, let us +make a profitable use of it, without making any great show and +exciting the envy and jealousy of our neighbors. However, since the +genies frighten you so much, I will take it out of your sight, and put +it where I may find it when I want it. The ring I cannot resolve to +part with; for without that you had never seen me again; and though I +am alive now, perhaps, if it were gone, I might not be so some moments +hence. Therefore I hope you will give me leave to keep it, and to wear +it always on my finger." + +Aladdin's mother replied that he might do what he pleased; for her +part, she would have nothing to do with genies, and never say anything +more about them. + +By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie had +brought; and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the thought of +hunger, putting one of the silver dishes under his vest, went out +early to sell it. Addressing himself to a Jew whom he met in the +streets, he took him aside, and pulling out the plate, asked him if he +would buy it. + +The cunning Jew took the dish, examined it, and as soon as he found +that it was good silver, asked Aladdin at how much he valued it. + +Aladdin, who had never been used to such traffic, told him he would +trust to his judgment and honor. The Jew was somewhat confounded at +this plain dealing; and doubting whether Aladdin understood the +material or the full value of what he offered to sell, took a piece of +gold out of his purse and gave it him, though it was but the sixtieth +part of the worth of the plate. Aladdin, taking the money very +eagerly, retired with so much haste that the Jew, not content with the +exorbitancy of his profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into his +ignorance, and was going to run after him, to endeavor to get some +change out of the piece of gold. But the boy ran so fast, and had got +so far, that it would have been impossible to overtake him. + +Before Aladdin went home he called at a baker's, bought some cakes of +bread, changed his money, and on his return gave the rest to his +mother, who went and purchased provisions enough to last them some +time. After this manner they lived, until Aladdin had sold the twelve +dishes singly, as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the same money; +who, after the first time, durst not offer him less, for fear of +losing so good a bargain. When he had sold the last dish, he had +recourse to the tray, which weighed ten times as much as the dishes, +and would have carried it to his old purchaser, but that it was too +large and cumbersome; therefore he was obliged to bring him home with +him to his mother's, where, after the Jew had examined the weight of +the tray, he laid down ten pieces of gold, with which Aladdin was very +well satisfied. + +When all the money was spent, Aladdin had recourse again to the lamp. +He took it in his hands, looked for the part where his mother had +rubbed it with the sand, and rubbed it also. The genie immediately +appeared, and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee +as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their +hands; I, and the other slaves of the lamp." + +"I am hungry," said Aladdin. "Bring me something to eat." + +The genie disappeared, and presently returned with a tray holding the +same number of covered dishes as before, set it down, and vanished. + +As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were again expended, he +took one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew chapman. But as +he was passing by a goldsmith's shop, the goldsmith perceiving him, +called to him, and said, "My lad, I imagine that you have something to +sell to the Jew, whom I often see you visit. Perhaps you do not know +that he is the greatest rogue even among the Jews. I will give you the +full worth of what you have to sell, or I will direct you to other +merchants who will not cheat you." + +This offer induced Aladdin to pull his plate from under his vest and +show it to the goldsmith. At first sight he perceived that it was made +of the finest silver, and asked if he had sold such as that to the +Jew. When Aladdin told him he had sold him twelve such, for a piece of +gold each, "What a villain!" cried the goldsmith. "But," added he, "my +son, what is past cannot be recalled. By showing you the value of this +plate, which is of the finest silver we use in our shops, I will let +you see how much the Jew has cheated you." + +The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and assured him +that his plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, which he +offered to pay down immediately. + +Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and never after went to any +other person. + +Though Aladdin and his mother had an inexhaustible treasure in their +lamp, and might have had whatever they wished for, yet they lived with +the same frugality as before, and it may easily be supposed that the +money for which Aladdin had sold the dishes and tray was sufficient to +maintain them some time. + +During this interval, Aladdin frequented the shops of the principal +merchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver, linens, silk +stuffs, and jewelry, and, oftentimes joining in their conversation, +acquired a knowledge of the world, and a desire to improve himself. By +his acquaintance among the jewelers, he came to know that the fruits +which he had gathered when he took the lamp were, instead of colored +glass, stones of inestimable value; but he had the prudence not to +mention this to any one, not even to his mother. + +One day as Aladdin was walking about the town he heard an order +proclaimed, commanding the people to shut up their shops and houses, +and keep within doors while the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the +sultan's daughter, went to the bath and returned. + +This proclamation inspired Aladdin with eager desire to see the +princess's face, which he determined to gratify by placing himself +behind the door of the bath, so that he could not fail to see her +face. + +Aladdin had not long concealed himself before the princess came. She +was attended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves, and mutes, who walked +on each side and behind her. When she came within three or four paces +of the door of the bath, she took off her veil, and gave Aladdin an +opportunity of a full view of her face. + +The princess was a noted beauty; her eyes were large, lively, and +sparkling; her smile bewitching; her nose faultless; her mouth small; +her lips vermilion. It is not therefore surprising that Aladdin, who +had never before seen such a blaze of charms, was dazzled and +enchanted. + +After the princess had passed by, and entered the bath, Aladdin +quitted his hiding place, and went home. His mother perceived him to +be more thoughtful and melancholy than usual, and asked what had +happened to make him so, or if he were ill. He then told his mother +all his adventure, and concluded by declaring, "I love the princess +more than I can express, and am resolved that I will ask her in +marriage of the sultan." + +Aladdin's mother listened with surprise to what her son told her. When +he talked of asking the princess in marriage, she laughed aloud. + +"Alas! child," said she, "what are you thinking of? You must be mad to +talk thus." + +"I assure you, mother," replied Aladdin, "that I am not mad, but in my +right senses. I foresaw that you would reproach me with folly and +extravagance; but I must tell you once more that I am resolved to +demand the princess of the sultan in marriage; nor do I despair of +success. I have the slaves of the lamp and of the ring to help me, and +you know how powerful their aid is. And I have another secret to tell +you; those pieces of glass, which I got from the trees in the garden +of the subterranean palace, are jewels of inestimable value, and fit +for the greatest monarchs. All the precious stones the jewelers have +in Bagdad are not to be compared to mine for size or beauty; and I am +sure that the offer of them will secure the favor of the sultan. You +have a large porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, and let us see +how they will look, when we have arranged them according to their +different colors." + +Aladdin's mother brought the china dish. Then he took the jewels out +of the two purses in which he had kept them, and placed them in order, +according to his fancy. But the brightness and luster they emitted in +the daytime, and the variety of the colors, so dazzled the eyes both +of mother and son that they were astonished beyond measure. Aladdin's +mother, emboldened by the sight of these rich jewels, and fearful lest +her son should be guilty of greater extravagance, complied with his +request, and promised to go early the next morning to the palace of +the sultan. Aladdin rose before daybreak, awakened his mother, +pressing her to go to the sultan's palace and to get admittance, if +possible, before the grand vizier, the other viziers, and the great +officers of state went in to take their seats in the divan, where the +sultan always attended in person. + +Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which they had put the jewels +the day before, wrapped it in two fine napkins, and set forward for +the sultan's palace. When she came to the gates the grand vizier, the +other viziers, and most distinguished lords of the court were just +gone in; but notwithstanding the crowd of people was great, she got +into the divan, a spacious hall, the entrance into which was very +magnificent. She placed herself just before the sultan, and the grand +vizier and the great lords, who sat in council on his right and left +hand. Several causes were called, according to their order, pleaded +and adjudged, until the time the divan generally broke up, when the +sultan, rising, returned to his apartment, attended by the grand +vizier; the other viziers and ministers of state then retired, as also +did all those whose business had called them thither. + +Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and all the people depart, +judged rightly that he would not sit again that day, and resolved to +go home. On her arrival she said, with much simplicity, "Son, I have +seen the sultan, and am very well persuaded he has seen me, too, for I +placed myself just before him; but he was so much taken up with those +who attended on all sides of him that I pitied him, and wondered at +his patience. At last I believe he was heartily tired, for he rose up +suddenly, and would not hear a great many who were ready prepared to +speak to him, but went away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed I +began to lose all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying so +long. But there is no harm done; I will go again to-morrow. Perhaps +the sultan may not be so busy." + +The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the present +as early as the day before; but when she came there, she found the +gates of the divan shut.[43] She went six times afterward on the days +appointed, placed herself always directly before the sultan, but with +as little success as the first morning. + +[Footnote 43: Sir Paul Ricaut says that the divan is not held on two +successive days.] + +On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when the +sultan returned to his own apartment he said to his grand vizier: "I +have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends constantly +every day that I give audience, with something wrapped up in a +napkin; she always stands up from the beginning to the breaking up of +the audience, and effects to place herself just before me. If this +woman comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I may +hear what she has to say." + +The grand vizier made answer by lowering his hand, and then lifting it +up above his head, signifying his willingness to lose it if he failed. + +On the next audience day, when Aladdin's mother went to the divan, and +placed herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand vizier +immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and pointing to her +bade him bring her before the sultan. The old woman at once followed +the mace-bearer, and when she reached the sultan, bowed her head down +to the carpet which covered the platform of the throne, and remained +in that posture until he bade her rise. + +She had no sooner done so, than he said to her, "Good woman, I have +observed you to stand many days from the beginning to the rising of +the divan. What business brings you here?" + +At these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time, and +when she arose, said, "Monarch of monarchs, I beg of you to pardon the +boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your pardon and +forgiveness." + +"Well," replied the sultan, "I will forgive you, be it what it may, +and no hurt shall come to you. Speak boldly." + +When Aladdin's mother had taken all these precautions, for fear of the +sultan's anger, she told him faithfully the errand on which her son +had sent her, and the event which led to his making so bold a request +in spite of all her remonstrances. + +The sultan hearkened to this discourse without showing the least +anger. But before he gave her any answer, he asked her what she had +brought tied up in the napkin. She took the china dish which she had +set down at the foot of the throne, untied it, and presented it to the +sultan. + +The sultan's amazement and surprise were inexpressible, when he saw so +many large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in the dish. He +remained for some time lost in admiration. At last, when he had +recovered himself, he received the present from Aladdin's mother's +hand, saying, "How rich, how beautiful!" + +After he had admired and handled all the jewels one after another, he +turned to his grand vizier, and showing him the dish, said, "Behold, +admire, wonder! And confess that your eyes never beheld jewels so rich +and beautiful before." + +The vizier was charmed. + +"Well," continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such a present? Is +it not worthy of the princess my daughter? And ought I not to bestow +her on one who values her at so great a price?" + +"I cannot but own," replied the grand vizier, "that the present is +worthy of the princess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three +months before you come to a final resolution. I hope, before that +time, my son, whom you have regarded with your favor, will be able to +make a nobler present than this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to +your majesty." + +The sultan granted his request, and he said to the old woman, "Good +woman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to the proposal you +have made me; but I cannot marry the princess my daughter for three +months. At the expiration of that time, come again." + +Aladdin's mother returned home much more gratified than she had +expected, and told her son with much joy the condescending answer she +had received from the sultan's own mouth; and that she was to come to +the divan again that day three months. + +At hearing this news, Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all +men, and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the affair, +the good success of which was of so great importance to his peace that +he counted every day, week, and even hour as it passed. When two of +the three months were passed, his mother one evening, having no oil in +the house, went out to buy some, and found a general rejoicing--the +houses dressed with foliage, silks, and carpeting, and every one +striving to show his joy according to his ability. The streets were +crowded with officers in habits of ceremony, mounted on horses richly +caparisoned, each attended by a great many footmen. Aladdin's mother +asked the oil merchant what was the meaning of all this preparation of +public festivity. + +"Whence came you, good woman," said he, "that you don't know that the +grand vizier's son is to marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the +sultan's daughter, to-night? She will presently return from the bath; +and these officers whom you see are to assist at the cavalcade to the +palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnized." + +Aladdin's mother, on hearing this news, ran home very quickly. + +"Child," cried she, "you are undone! The sultan's fine promises will +come to naught. This night the grand vizier's son is to marry the +Princess Buddir al Buddoor." + +At this account Aladdin was thunderstruck. He bethought himself of the +lamp, and of the genie who had promised to obey him; and without +indulging in idle words against the sultan, the vizier, or his son, he +determined, if possible, to prevent the marriage. + +When Aladdin had got into his chamber he took the lamp, and rubbing it +in the same place as before, immediately the genie appeared, and said +to him, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave; +I, and the other slaves of the lamp." + +"Hear me," said Aladdin. "Thou hast hitherto obeyed me, but now I am +about to impose on thee a harder task. The sultan's daughter, who was +promised me as my bride, is this night married to the son of the grand +vizier. Bring them both hither to me immediately they retire to their +bedchamber." + +"Master," replied the genie, "I obey you." + +Aladdin supped with his mother as was their wont, and then went to his +own apartment, and sat up to await the return of the genie, according +to his commands. + +In the meantime the festivities in honor of the princess's marriage +were conducted in the sultan's palace with great magnificence. The +ceremonies were at last brought to a conclusion, and the princess and +the son of the vizier retired to the bedchamber prepared for them. No +sooner had they entered it, and dismissed their attendants, than the +genie, the faithful slave of the lamp, to the great amazement and +alarm of the bride and bridegroom took up the bed, and by an agency +invisible to them, transported it in an instant into Aladdin's +chamber, where he set it down. + +"Remove the bridegroom," said Aladdin to the genie, "and keep him a +prisoner till to-morrow dawn, and then return with him here." On +Aladdin being left alone with the princess, he endeavored to assuage +her fears, and explained to her the treachery practiced upon him by +the sultan her father. He then laid himself down beside her, putting a +drawn scimitar between them, to show that he was determined to secure +her safety, and to treat her with the utmost possible respect. At +break of day, the genie appeared at the appointed hour, bringing back +the bridegroom, whom by breathing upon he had left motionless and +entranced at the door of Aladdin's chamber during the night, and at +Aladdin's command transported the couch, with the bride and bridegroom +on it, by the same invisible agency, into the palace of the sultan. + +At the instant that the genie had set down the couch with the bride +and bridegroom in their own chamber, the sultan came to the door to +offer his good wishes to his daughter. The grand vizier's son, who was +almost perished with cold, by standing in his thin under-garment all +night, no sooner heard the knocking at the door than he got out of +bed, and ran into the robing-chamber, where he had undressed himself +the night before. + +The sultan, having opened the door, went to the bed-side, and kissed +the princess on the forehead, but was extremely surprised to see her +look so melancholy. She only cast at him a sorrowful look, expressive +of great affliction. He suspected there was something extraordinary +in this silence, and thereupon went immediately to the sultaness's +apartment, told her in what a state he found the princess, and how she +had received him. + +"Sire," said the sultaness, "I will go and see her. She will not +receive me in the same manner." + +The princess received her mother with sighs and tears, and signs of +deep dejection. At last, upon her pressing on her the duty of telling +her all her thoughts, she gave to the sultaness a precise description +of all that happened to her during the night; on which the sultaness +enjoined on her the necessity of silence and discretion, as no one +would give credence to so strange a tale. The grand vizier's son, +elated with the honor of being the sultan's son-in-law, kept silence +on his part, and the events of the night were not allowed to cast the +least gloom on the festivities on the following day, in continued +celebration of the royal marriage. + +When night came, the bride and bridegroom were again attended to their +chamber with the same ceremonies as on the preceding evening. Aladdin, +knowing that this would be so, had already given his commands to the +genie of the lamp; and no sooner were they alone than their bed was +removed in the same mysterious manner as on the preceding evening; and +having passed the night in the same unpleasant way, they were in the +morning conveyed to the palace of the sultan. Scarcely had they been +replaced in their apartment, when the sultan came to make his +compliments to his daughter. The princess could no longer conceal from +him the unhappy treatment she had been subjected to, and told him all +that had happened, as she had already related it to her mother. + +The sultan, on hearing these strange tidings, consulted with the grand +vizier; and finding from him that his son had been subjected by an +invisible agency to even worse treatment, he determined to declare the +marriage canceled, and all the festivities, which were yet to last for +several days, countermanded and terminated. + +This sudden change in the mind of the sultan gave rise to various +speculations and reports. Nobody but Aladdin knew the secret, and he +kept it with the most scrupulous silence. Neither the sultan nor the +grand vizier, who had forgotten Aladdin and his request, had the least +thought that he had any hand in the strange adventures that befell the +bride and bridegroom. + +On the very day that the three months contained in the sultan's +promise expired, the mother of Aladdin again went to the palace, and +stood in the same place in the divan. The sultan knew her again, and +directed his vizier to have her brought before him. + +After having prostrated herself, she made answer, in reply to the +sultan: "Sire, I come at the end of three months to ask of you the +fulfillment of the promise you made to my son." + +The sultan little thought the request of Aladdin's mother was made to +him in earnest, or that he would hear any more of the matter. He +therefore took counsel with his vizier, who suggested that the sultan +should attach such conditions to the marriage that no one of the +humble condition of Aladdin could possibly fulfill. In accordance with +this suggestion of the vizier, the sultan replied to the mother of +Aladdin: "Good woman, it is true sultans ought to abide by their word, +and I am ready to keep mine, by making your son happy in marriage +with the princess my daughter. But as I cannot marry her without some +further proof of your son being able to support her in royal state, +you may tell him I will fulfill my promise as soon as he shall send me +forty trays of massy gold, full of the same sort of jewels you have +already made me a present of, and carried by the like number of black +slaves, who shall be led by as many young and handsome white slaves, +all dressed magnificently. On these conditions I am ready to bestow +the princess my daughter upon him; therefore, good woman, go and tell +him so, and I will wait till you bring me his answer." + +Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time before the sultan's +throne, and retired. On her way home, she laughed within herself at +her son's foolish imagination. "Where," said she, "can he get so many +large gold trays, and such precious stones to fill them? It is +altogether out of his power, and I believe he will not be much pleased +with my embassy this time." + +When she came home, full of these thoughts, she told Aladdin all the +circumstances of her interview with the sultan, and the conditions on +which he consented to the marriage. "The sultan expects your answer +immediately," said she; and then added, laughing, "I believe he may +wait long enough!" + +"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied Aladdin. "This demand +is a mere trifle, and will prove no bar to my marriage with the +princess. I will prepare at once to satisfy his request." + +Aladdin retired to his own apartment and summoned the genie of the +lamp, and required him to immediately prepare and present the gift, +before the sultan closed his morning audience, according to the terms +in which it had been prescribed. The genie professed his obedience to +the owner of the lamp, and disappeared. Within a very short time, a +train of forty black slaves, led by the same number of white slaves, +appeared opposite the house in which Aladdin lived. Each black slave +carried on his head a basin of massy gold, full of pearls, diamonds, +rubies, and emeralds. + +Aladdin then addressed his mother: "Madam, pray lose no time; before +the sultan and the divan rise, I would have you return to the palace +with this present as the dowry demanded for the princess, that he may +judge by my diligence and exactness of the ardent and sincere desire I +have to procure myself the honor of this alliance." + +As soon as this magnificent procession, with Aladdin's mother at its +head, had begun to march from Aladdin's house, the whole city was +filled with the crowds of people desirous to see so grand a sight. The +graceful bearing, elegant form, and wonderful likeness of each slave; +their grave walk at an equal distance from each other, the luster of +their jeweled girdles, and the brilliancy of the aigrettes of precious +stones in their turbans, excited the greatest admiration in the +spectators. As they had to pass through several streets to the palace, +the whole length of the way was lined with files of spectators. +Nothing, indeed, was ever seen so beautiful and brilliant in the +sultan's palace, and the richest robes of the emirs of his court were +not to be compared to the costly dresses of these slaves, whom they +supposed to be kings. + +As the sultan, who had been informed of their approach, had given +orders for them to be admitted, they met with no obstacle, but went +into the divan in regular order, one part turning to the right and the +other to the left. After they were all entered, and had formed a +semi-circle before the sultan's throne, the black slaves laid the +golden trays on the carpet, prostrated themselves, touching the carpet +with their foreheads, and at the same time the white slaves did the +same. When they rose, the black slaves uncovered the trays, and then +all stood with their arms crossed over their breasts. + +In the meantime, Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of the throne, +and having prostrated herself, said to the sultan, "Sire, my son knows +this present is much below the notice of Princess Buddir al Buddoor; +but hopes, nevertheless, that your majesty will accept of it, and make +it agreeable to the princess, and with the greater confidence since he +has endeavored to conform to the conditions you were pleased to +impose." + +The sultan, overpowered by the sight of such more than royal +magnificence, replied without hesitation to the words of Aladdin's +mother: "Go and tell your son that I wait with open arms to embrace +him; and the more haste he makes to come and receive the princess my +daughter from my hands, the greater pleasure he will do me." + +As soon as Aladdin's mother had retired, the sultan put an end to the +audience. Rising from his throne, he ordered that the princess's +attendants should come and carry the trays into their mistress's +apartment, whither he went himself to examine them with her at his +leisure. The fourscore slaves were conducted into the palace; and the +sultan, telling the princess of their magnificent apparel, ordered +them to be brought before her apartment, that she might see through +the lattices he had not exaggerated in his account of them. + +In the meantime Aladdin's mother reached home, and showed in her air +and countenance the good news she brought to her son. "My son," said +she, "you may rejoice you are arrived at the height of your desires. +The sultan has declared that you shall marry the Princess Buddir al +Buddoor. He waits for you with impatience." + +Aladdin, enraptured with this news, made his mother very little reply, +but retired to his chamber. There he rubbed his lamp, and the obedient +genie appeared. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "convey me at once to a bath, and supply me +with the richest and most magnificent robe ever worn by a monarch." + +No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the genie rendered him, +as well as himself, invisible, and transported him into a hummum[44] +of the finest marble of all sorts of colors; where he was undressed, +without seeing by whom, in a magnificent and spacious hall. He was +then well rubbed and washed with various scented waters. After he had +passed through several degrees of heat, he came out quite a different +man from what he was before. His skin was clear as that of a child, +his body lightsome and free; and when he returned into the hall, he +found, instead of his own poor raiment, a robe, the magnificence of +which astonished him. The genie helped him to dress, and when he had +done, transported him back to his own chamber, where he asked him if +he had any other commands. + +[Footnote 44: A Turkish word for a bath.] + +"Yes," answered Aladdin, "bring me a charger that surpasses in beauty +and goodness the best in the sultan's stables; with a saddle, bridle, +and other caparisons to correspond with his value. Furnish also twenty +slaves, as richly clothed as those who carried the present to the +sultan, to walk by my side and follow me, and twenty more to go before +me in two ranks. Besides these, bring my mother six women slaves to +attend her, as richly dressed at least as any of the Princess Buddir +al Buddoor's, each carrying a complete dress fit for any sultaness. I +want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses; go, and make +haste." + +As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the genie disappeared, but +presently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom +carried each a purse containing ten thousand pieces of gold, and six +women slaves, each carrying on her head a different dress for +Aladdin's mother, wrapped up in a piece of silver tissue, and +presented them all to Aladdin. + +He presented the six women slaves to his mother, telling her they were +her slaves, and that the dresses they had brought were for her use. Of +the ten purses Aladdin took four, which he gave to his mother, telling +her those were to supply her with necessaries; the other six he left +in the hands of the slaves who brought them, with an order to throw +them by handfuls among the people as they went to the sultan's palace. +The six slaves who carried the purses he ordered likewise to march +before him, three on the right hand and three on the left. + +When Aladdin had thus prepared himself for his first interview with +the sultan, he dismissed the genie, and immediately mounting his +charger, began his march, and though he never was on horseback before, +appeared with a grace the most experienced horseman might envy. The +innumerable concourse of people through whom he passed made the air +echo with their acclamations, especially every time the six slaves who +carried the purses threw handfuls of gold among the populace. + +On Aladdin's arrival at the palace, the sultan was surprised to find +him more richly and magnificently robed than he had ever been himself, +and was impressed with his good looks and dignity of manner, which +were so different from what he expected in the son of one so humble as +Aladdin's mother. He embraced him with all the demonstrations of joy, +and when he would have fallen at his feet, held him by the hand, and +made him sit near his throne. He shortly after led him, amidst the +sounds of trumpets, hautboys, and all kinds of music, to a magnificent +entertainment, at which the sultan and Aladdin ate by themselves, and +the great lords of the court, according to their rank and dignity, sat +at different tables. + +After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief cadi, and commanded him +to draw up a contract of marriage between the Princess Buddir al +Buddoor and Aladdin. When the contract had been drawn, the sultan +asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace and complete the +ceremonies of the marriage that day. + +"Sire," said Aladdin, "though great is my impatience to enter on the +honor granted me by your majesty, yet I beg you to permit me first to +build a palace worthy to receive the princess your daughter. I pray +you to grant me sufficient ground near your palace, and I will have it +completed with the utmost expedition." + +The sultan granted Aladdin his request, and again embraced him. After +which he took his leave with as much politeness as if he had been bred +up and had always lived at court. + +Aladdin returned home in the order he had come, amidst the +acclamations of the people, who wished him all happiness and +prosperity. As soon as he dismounted, he retired to his own chamber, +took the lamp, and summoned the genie as usual, who professed his +allegiance. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "build me a palace fit to receive the Princess +Buddir al Buddoor. Let its materials be made of nothing less than +porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, and the finest marble. Let its +walls be massive gold and silver bricks and laid alternately. Let each +front contain six windows, and let the lattices of these (except one, +which must be left unfinished) be enriched with diamonds, rubies, and +emeralds, so that they shall exceed everything of the kind ever seen +in the world. Let there be an inner and outer court in front of the +palace, and a spacious garden; but above all things, provide a safe +treasure house, and fill it with gold and silver. Let there be also +kitchens and storehouses, stables full of the finest horses, with +their equerries and grooms, and hunting equipage, officers, +attendants, and slaves, both men and women, to form a retinue for the +princess and myself. Go and execute my wishes." + +When Aladdin gave these commands to the genie, the sun was set. The +next morning at daybreak the genie presented himself, and, having +obtained Aladdin's consent, transported him in a moment to the palace +he had made. The genie led him through all the apartments, where he +found officers and slaves, habited according to their rank and the +services to which they were appointed. The genie then showed him the +treasury, which was opened by a treasurer, where Aladdin saw large +vases of different sizes, piled up to the top with money, ranged all +around the chamber. The genie thence led him to the stables, where +were some of the finest horses in the world, and the grooms busy in +dressing them; from thence they went to the storehouses, which were +filled with all things necessary, both for food and ornament. + +When Aladdin had examined every portion of the palace, and +particularly the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and found it +far to exceed his fondest expectations, he said, "Genie, there is one +thing wanting, a fine carpet for the princess to walk upon from the +sultan's palace to mine. Lay one down immediately." The genie +disappeared, and Aladdin saw what he desired executed in an instant. +The genie then returned, and carried him to his own home. + +When the sultan's porters came to open the gates, they were amazed to +find what had been an unoccupied garden filled up with a magnificent +palace, and a splendid carpet extending to it all the way from the +sultan's palace. They told the strange tidings to the grand vizier, +who informed the sultan. + +"It must be Aladdin's palace," the sultan exclaimed, "which I gave him +leave to build for my daughter. He has wished to surprise us, and let +us see what wonders can be done in only one night." + +Aladdin, on his being conveyed by the genie to his own home, requested +his mother to go to the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, and tell her that +the palace would be ready for her reception in the evening. She went, +attended by her women slaves, in the same order as on the preceding +day. Shortly after her arrival at the princess's apartment the sultan +himself came in, and was surprised to find her, whom he knew only as +his suppliant at his divan in humble guise, more richly and +sumptuously attired than his own daughter. This gave him a higher +opinion of Aladdin, who took such care of his mother, and made her +share his wealth and honors. + +Shortly after her departure, Aladdin, mounting his horse and attended +by his retinue of magnificent attendants, left his paternal home +forever, and went to the palace in the same pomp as on the day before. +Nor did he forget to take with him the wonderful lamp, to which he +owed all his good fortune, nor to wear the ring which was given him as +a talisman. + +The sultan entertained Aladdin with the utmost magnificence, and at +night, on the conclusion of the marriage ceremonies, the princess took +leave of the sultan her father. Bands of music led the procession, +followed by a hundred state ushers, and the like number of black +mutes, in two files, with their officers at their head. Four hundred +of the sultan's young pages carried flambeaux on each side, which, +together with the illuminations of the sultan's and Aladdin's palaces, +made it as light as day. In this order the princess, conveyed in her +litter, and accompanied also by Aladdin's mother, carried in a superb +litter and attended by her women slaves, proceeded on the carpet which +was spread from the sultan's palace to that of Aladdin. + +On her arrival Aladdin was ready to receive her at the entrance, and +led her into a large hall, illuminated with an infinite number of wax +candles, where a noble feast was served up. The dishes were of massy +gold, and contained the most delicate viands. The vases, basins, and +goblets were gold also, and of exquisite workmanship, and all the +other ornaments and embellishments of the hall were answerable to this +display. The princess, dazzled to see so much riches collected in one +place, said to Aladdin, "I thought, prince, that nothing in the world +was so beautiful as the sultan my father's palace, but the sight of +this hall alone is sufficient to show I was mistaken." + +When the supper was ended, there entered a company of female +dancers,[45] who performed, according to the custom of the country, +singing at the same time verses in praise of the bride and bridegroom. +About midnight Aladdin's mother conducted the bride to the nuptial +apartment, and he soon after retired. + +[Footnote 45: These were the "Nautch girls," attached to this day to +all Eastern courts.] + +The next morning the attendants of Aladdin presented themselves to +dress him, and brought him another habit, as rich and magnificent as +that worn the day before. He then ordered one of the horses to be got +ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of a large troop of slaves +to the sultan's palace to entreat him to take a repast in the +princess's palace, attended by his grand vizier and all the lords of +his court. The sultan consented with pleasure, rose up immediately, +and, preceded by the principal officers of his palace, and followed by +all the great lords of his court, accompanied Aladdin. + +The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin's palace, the more he was +struck with its beauty; but when he entered it, when he came into the +hall and saw the windows, enriched with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, +all large perfect stones, he was completely surprised, and said to his +son-in-law, "This palace is one of the wonders of the world; for where +in all the world besides shall we find walls built of massy gold and +silver, and diamonds, rubies, and emeralds composing the windows? But +what most surprises me is that a hall of this magnificence should be +left with one of its windows incomplete and unfinished." + +"Sire," answered Aladdin, "the omission was by design, since I wished +that you should have the glory of finishing this hall." + +"I take your intention kindly," said the sultan, "and will give orders +about it immediately." + +After the sultan had finished this magnificent entertainment, provided +for him and for his court by Aladdin, he was informed that the +jewelers and goldsmiths attended; upon which he returned to the hall, +and showed them the window which was unfinished. + +"I sent for you," said he, "to fit up this window in as great +perfection as the rest. Examine them well, and make all the dispatch +you can." + +The jewelers and goldsmiths examined the three-and-twenty windows with +great attention, and after they had consulted together, to know what +each could furnish, they returned, and presented themselves before the +sultan, whose principal jeweler, undertaking to speak for the rest, +said, "Sire, we are all willing to exert our utmost care and industry +to obey you; but among us all we cannot furnish jewels enough for so +great a work." + +"I have more than are necessary," said the sultan. "Come to my palace, +and you shall choose what may answer your purpose." + +When the sultan returned to his palace he ordered his jewels to be +brought out, and the jewelers took a great quantity, particularly +those Aladdin had made him a present of, which they soon used, without +making any great advance in their work. They came again several times +for more, and in a month's time had not finished half their work. In +short, they used all the jewels the sultan had, and borrowed of the +vizier, but yet the work was not half done. + +Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeavors to make this window +like the rest were in vain, sent for the jewelers and goldsmiths, and +not only commanded them to desist from their work, but ordered them to +undo what they had begun, and to carry all their jewels back to the +sultan and to the vizier. They undid in a few hours what they had been +six weeks about, and retired, leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He +took the lamp, which he carried about him, rubbed it, and presently +the genie appeared. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to leave one of the +four-and-twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thou hast executed +my commands exactly; now I would have thee make it like the rest." + +The genie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the hall, and +returning soon after, found the window, as he wished it to be, like +the others. + +In the meantime the jewelers and goldsmiths repaired to the palace, +and were introduced into the sultan's presence, where the chief +jeweler presented the precious stones which he had brought back. The +sultan asked them if Aladdin had given them any reason for so doing, +and they answering that he had given them none, he ordered a horse to +be brought, which he mounted, and rode to his son-in-law's palace, +with some few attendants on foot, to inquire why he had ordered the +completion of the window to be stopped. + +Aladdin met him at the gate, and without giving any reply to his +inquiries conducted him to the grand saloon, where the sultan, to his +great surprise, found that the window, which was left imperfect, +corresponded exactly with the others. He fancied at first that he was +mistaken, and examined the two windows on each side, and afterward all +the four-and-twenty; but when he was convinced that the window which +several workmen had been so long about was finished in so short a +time, he embraced Aladdin and kissed him between his eyes. + +"My son," said he, "what a man you are to do such surprising things +always in the twinkling of an eye! There is not your fellow in the +world; the more I know, the more I admire you." + +The sultan returned to the palace, and after this went frequently to +the window to contemplate and admire the wonderful palace of his +son-in-law. + +Aladdin did not confine himself in his palace, but went with much +state, sometimes to one mosque, and sometimes to another, to prayers, +or to visit the grand vizier or the principal lords of the court. +Every time he went out he caused two slaves, who walked by the side of +his horse, to throw handfuls of money among the people as he passed +through the streets and squares. This generosity gained him the love +and blessings of the people, and it was common for them to swear by +his head.[46] Thus Aladdin, while he paid all respect to the sultan, +won by his affable behavior and liberality the affection of the +people. + +[Footnote 46: There is a trace of this custom in Joseph swearing to +his brethren, "By the life of Pharaoh, ye are spies!"] + +Aladdin had conducted himself in this manner several years, when the +African magician, who had for some years dismissed him from his +recollection, determined to inform himself with certainty whether he +perished, as he supposed, in the subterranean cave or not. After he +had resorted to a long course of magic ceremonies, and had formed a +horoscope by which to ascertain Aladdin's fate, what was his surprise +to find the appearances to declare that Aladdin, instead of dying in +the cave, had made his escape, and was living in royal splendor by the +aid of the genie of the wonderful lamp! + +On the very next day the magician set out, and traveled with the +utmost haste to the capital of China, where, on his arrival, he took +up his lodgings in a khan. + +He then quickly learned about the wealth, charities, happiness, and +splendid palace of Prince Aladdin. Directly he saw the wonderful +fabric, he knew that none but the genies, the slaves of the lamp, +could have performed such wonders, and, piqued to the quick at +Aladdin's high estate, he returned to the khan. + +On his return he had recourse to an operation of geomancy to find out +where the lamp was--whether Aladdin carried it about with him, or +where he left it. The result of his consultation informed him, to his +great joy, that the lamp was in the palace. + +"Well," said he, rubbing his hands in glee, "I shall have the lamp, +and I shall make Aladdin return to his original mean condition." + +The next day the magician learned from the chief superintendent of +the khan where he lodged that Aladdin had gone on a hunting expedition +which was to last for eight days, of which only three had expired. The +magician wanted to know no more. He resolved at once on his plans. He +went to a coppersmith, and asked for a dozen copper lamps; the master +of the shop told him he had not so many by him, but if he would have +patience till the next day he would have them ready. The magician +appointed his time, and desired him to take care that they should be +handsome and well polished. + +The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, paid the man +his full price, put them into a basket hanging on his arm, and went +directly to Aladdin's palace. As he approached, he began crying, "Who +will exchange old lamps for new?" And as he went along, a crowd of +children collected, who hooted, and thought him, as did all who +chanced to be passing by, a madman or a fool to offer to exchange new +lamps for old. + +The African magician regarded not their scoffs, hootings, or all they +could say to him, but still continued crying, "Who will exchange old +lamps for new?" He repeated this so often, walking backward and +forward in front of the palace, that the princess, who was then in the +hall of the four-and-twenty windows, hearing a man cry something, and +seeing a great mob crowding about him, sent one of her women slaves to +know what he cried. + +The slave returned, laughing so heartily that the princess rebuked +her. + +"Madam," answered the slave, laughing still, "who can forbear +laughing, to see an old man with a basket on his arm, full of fine new +lamps, asking to exchange them for old ones? The children and mob, +crowding about him so that he can hardly stir, make all the noise +they can in derision of him." + +Another female slave, hearing this, said, "Now you speak of lamps, I +know not whether the princess may have observed it, but there is an +old one upon a shelf of the Prince Aladdin's robing room, and whoever +owns it will not be sorry to find a new one in its stead. If the +princess chooses, she may have the pleasure of trying if this old man +is so silly as to give a new lamp for an old one, without taking +anything for the exchange." + +The princess, who knew not the value of the lamp and the interest that +Aladdin had to keep it safe, entered into the pleasantry and commanded +a slave to take it and make the exchange. The slave obeyed, went out +of the hall, and no sooner got to the palace gates than he saw the +African magician, called to him, and showing him the old lamp, said, +"Give me a new lamp for this." + +The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. There +could be no other such in this palace, where every utensil was gold or +silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the slave's hand, and thrusting +it as far as he could into his breast, offered him his basket, and +bade him choose which he liked best. The slave picked out one and +carried it to the princess; but the change was no sooner made than the +place rang with the shouts of the children, deriding the magician's +folly. + +The African magician stayed no longer near the palace, nor cried any +more, "New lamps for old," but made the best of his way to his khan. +His end was answered, and by his silence he got rid of the children +and the mob. + +As soon as he was out of sight of the two palaces he hastened down +the least-frequented streets. Having no more occasion for his lamps or +basket, he set all down in a spot where nobody saw him; then going +down another street or two, he walked till he came to one of the city +gates, and pursuing his way through the suburbs, which were very +extensive, at length he reached a lonely spot, where he stopped till +the darkness of the night, as the most suitable time for the design he +had in contemplation. + +When it became quite dark, he pulled the lamp out of his breast and +rubbed it. At that summons the genie appeared, and said, "What wouldst +thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all +those who have that lamp in their hands; both I and the other slaves +of the lamp." + +"I command thee," replied the magician, "to transport me immediately, +and the palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamp have built +in this city, with all the people in it, to Africa." + +The genie made no reply, but with the assistance of the other genies, +the slaves of the lamp, immediately transported him and the palace, +entire, to the spot whither he had been desired to convey it. + +Early the next morning when the sultan, according to custom, went to +contemplate and admire Aladdin's palace, his amazement was unbounded +to find that it could nowhere be seen. He could not comprehend how so +large a palace, which he had seen plainly every day for some years, +should vanish so soon and not leave the least remains behind. In his +perplexity he ordered the grand vizier to be sent for with expedition. + +The grand vizier, who, in secret, bore no good will to Aladdin, +intimated his suspicion that the palace was built by magic, and that +Aladdin had made his hunting excursion an excuse for the removal of +his palace with the same suddenness with which it had been erected. He +induced the sultan to send a detachment of his guard, and to have +Aladdin seized as a prisoner of state. + +On his son-in-law being brought before him, the sultan would not hear +a word from him, but ordered him to be put to death. But the decree +caused so much discontent among the people, whose affection Aladdin +had secured by his largesses and charities, that the sultan, fearful +of an insurrection, was obliged to grant him his life. + +When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he again addressed the sultan: +"Sire, I pray you to let me know the crime by which I have thus lost +the favor of thy countenance." + +"Your crime!" answered the sultan. "Wretched man, do you not know it? +Follow me, and I will show you." + +The sultan then took Aladdin into the apartment from whence he was +wont to look at and admire his palace, and said, "You ought to know +where your palace stood; look, mind, and tell me what has become of +it." + +Aladdin did so, and being utterly amazed at the loss of his palace, +was speechless. At last recovering himself, he said, "It is true, I do +not see the palace. It is vanished; but I had no concern in its +removal. I beg you to give me forty days, and if in that time I cannot +restore it, I will offer my head to be disposed of at your pleasure." + +"I give you the time you ask, but at the end of the forty days forget +not to present yourself before me." + +Aladdin went out of the sultan's palace in a condition of exceeding +humiliation. The lords who had courted him in the days of his splendor +now declined to have any communication with him. For three days he +wandered about the city, exciting the wonder and compassion of the +multitude by asking everybody he met if they had seen his palace, or +could tell him anything of it. On the third day he wandered into the +country, and as he was approaching a river he fell down the bank with +so much violence that he rubbed the ring which the magician had given +him so hard, by holding on to the rock to save himself, that +immediately the same genie appeared whom he had seen in the cave where +the magician had left him. + +"What wouldst thou have?" said the genie. "I am ready to obey thee as +thy slave, and the slave of all those that have that ring on their +finger; both I and the other slaves of the ring." + +Aladdin, agreeably surprised at an offer of help so little expected, +replied, "Genie, show me where the palace I caused to be built now +stands, or transport it back where it first stood." + +"Your command," answered the genie, "is not wholly in my power; I am +only the slave of the ring, and not of the lamp." + +"I command thee, then," replied Aladdin, "by the power of the ring, to +transport me to the spot where my palace stands, in what part of the +world soever it may be." + +These words were no sooner out of his mouth than the genie transported +him into Africa, to the midst of a large plain, where his palace +stood at no great distance from a city, and, placing him exactly under +the window of the princess's apartment, left him. + +Now it so happened that shortly after Aladdin had been transported by +the slave of the ring to the neighborhood of his palace, that one of +the attendants of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, looking through the +window, perceived him and instantly told her mistress. The princess, +who could not believe the joyful tidings, hastened herself to the +window, and seeing Aladdin, immediately opened it. The noise of +opening the window made Aladdin turn his head that way, and perceiving +the princess, he saluted her with an air that expressed his joy. + +"To lose no time," said she to him, "I have sent to have the private +door opened for you; enter, and come up." + +The private door, which was just under the princess's apartment, was +soon opened, and Aladdin was conducted up into the chamber. It is +impossible to express the joy of both at seeing each other, after so +cruel a separation. After embracing and shedding tears of joy, they +sat down, and Aladdin said, "I beg of you, princess, to tell me what +is become of an old lamp which stood upon a shelf in my robing +chamber." + +"Alas!" answered the princess, "I was afraid our misfortune might be +owing to that lamp; and what grieves me most is that I have been the +cause of it. I was foolish enough to exchange the old lamp for a new +one, and the next morning I found myself in this unknown country, +which I am told is Africa." + +"Princess," said Aladdin, interrupting her, "you have explained all +by telling me we are in Africa. I desire you only to tell me if you +know where the old lamp now is." + +"The African magician carries it carefully wrapped up in his bosom," +said the princess; "and this I can assure you, because he pulled it +out before me, and showed it to me in triumph." + +"Princess," said Aladdin, "I think I have found the means to deliver +you and to regain possession of the lamp, on which all my prosperity +depends. To execute this design, it is necessary for me to go to the +town. I shall return by noon, and will then tell you what must be done +by you to insure success. In the meantime, I shall disguise myself, +and I beg that the private door may be opened at the first knock." + +When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked round him on all sides, +and perceiving a peasant going into the country, hastened after him. +When he had overtaken him, he made a proposal to him to change +clothes, which the man agreed to. When they had made the exchange, the +countryman went about his business, and Aladdin entered the +neighboring city. After traversing several streets, he came to that +part of the town where the merchants and artisans had their particular +streets according to their trades.[47] He went into that of the +druggists; and entering one of the largest and best furnished shops, +asked the druggist if he had a certain powder, which he named. + +[Footnote 47: This location of persons of one trade in one part of a +town was once common in England. Hence the "Draper's Lane" and +"Butcher's Row," found in many of our large towns; and the "Old +Jewry," "Lombard Street," and "Cheapside," of London.] + +The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to be very poor, told him +he had it, but that it was very dear; upon which Aladdin, penetrating +his thoughts, pulled out his purse, and showing him some gold, asked +for half a dram of the powder, which the druggist weighed and gave +him, telling him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdin put the money +into his hand, and hastened to the palace, which he entered at once by +the private door. + +When he came into the princess's apartment he said to her, "Princess, +you must take your part in the scheme which I propose for our +deliverance. You must overcome your aversion for the magician, and +assume a most friendly manner toward him, and ask him to oblige you by +partaking of an entertainment in your apartments. Before he leaves, +ask him to exchange cups with you, which he, gratified at the honor +you do him, will gladly do, when you must give him the cup containing +this powder. On drinking it he will instantly fall asleep, and we will +obtain the lamp, whose slaves will do all our bidding, and restore us +and the palace to the capital of China." + +The princess obeyed to the utmost her husband's instructions. She +assumed a look of pleasure on the next visit of the magician, and +asked him to an entertainment, which he most willingly accepted. At +the close of the evening, during which the princess had tried all she +could to please him, she asked him to exchange cups with her, and +giving the signal, had the drugged cup brought to her, which she gave +to the magician. Out of compliment to the princess he drank it to the +very last drop, when he fell back lifeless on the sofa. + +The princess, in anticipation of the success of her scheme, had so +placed her women from the great hall to the foot of the staircase +that the word was no sooner given that the African magician was fallen +backward, than the door was opened, and Aladdin admitted to the hall. +The princess rose from her seat, and ran, overjoyed, to embrace him; +but he stopped her, and said, "Princess, retire to your apartment; and +let me be left alone, while I endeavor to transport you back to China +as speedily as you were brought from thence." + +When the princess, her women, and slaves were gone out of the hall, +Aladdin shut the door, and going directly to the dead body of the +magician, opened his vest, took out the lamp, which was carefully +wrapped up, and rubbing it, the genie immediately appeared. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "I command thee to transport this palace +instantly to the place from whence it was brought hither." + +The genie bowed his head in token of obedience, and disappeared. +Immediately the palace was transported into China, and its removal was +felt only by two little shocks, the one when it was lifted up, the +other when it was set down, and both in a very short interval of time. + +On the morning after the restoration of Aladdin's palace the sultan +was looking out of his window, mourning over the fate of his daughter, +when he thought that he saw the vacancy created by the disappearance +of the palace to be again filled up. + +On looking more attentively, he was convinced beyond the power of +doubt that it was his son-in-law's palace. Joy and gladness succeeded +to sorrow and grief. He at once ordered a horse to be saddled, which +he mounted that instant, thinking he could not make haste enough to +the place. + +Aladdin rose that morning by daybreak, put on one of the most +magnificent habits his wardrobe afforded, and went up into the hall of +the twenty-four windows, from whence he perceived the sultan +approaching, and received him at the foot of the great staircase, +helping him to dismount. + +He led the sultan into the princess's apartment. The happy father +embraced her with tears of joy; and the princess, on her side, +afforded similar testimonies of her extreme pleasure. After a short +interval, devoted to mutual explanations of all that had happened, the +sultan restored Aladdin to his favor, and expressed his regret for the +apparent harshness with which he had treated him. + +"My son," said he, "be not displeased at my proceedings against you; +they arose from my paternal love, and therefore you ought to forgive +the excesses to which it hurried me." + +"Sire," replied Aladdin, "I have not the least reason to complain of +your conduct, since you did nothing but what your duty required. This +infamous magician, the basest of men, was the sole cause of my +misfortune." + +The African magician, who was thus twice foiled in his endeavor to +rain Aladdin, had a younger brother, who was as skillful a magician as +himself and exceeded him in wickedness and hatred of mankind. By +mutual agreement they communicated with each other once a year, +however widely separate might be their place of residence from each +other. The younger brother, not having received as usual his annual +communication, prepared to take a horoscope and ascertain his +brother's proceedings. He, as well as his brother, always carried a +geomantic square instrument about him; he prepared the sand,[48] cast +the points, and drew the figures. On examining the planetary crystal, +he found that his brother was no longer living, but had been poisoned; +and by another observation, that he was in the capital of the kingdom +of China; also, that the person who had poisoned him was of mean +birth, though married to a princess, a sultan's daughter. + +[Footnote 48: Reml or Raml signifies "sand prepared," or a preparation +of sand on which are marked certain figures serving for a kind of +divination, which we call Geomancy; and the Arabs and Turks _Kikmut al +Reml_. These disposed in a certain number on many unequal lines, are +described also with a pen on paper; and the person who practices +divination by this art is called _Rammal_.--D'Herbelot, art. "Raml."] + +When the magician had informed himself of his brother's fate he +resolved immediately to avenge his death, and at once departed for +China; where, after crossing plains, rivers, mountains, deserts, and a +long tract of country without delay, he arrived after incredible +fatigues. When he came to the capital of China he took a lodging at a +khan. His magic art soon revealed to him that Aladdin was the person +who had been the cause of the death of his brother. He had heard, too, +all the persons of repute in the city talking of a woman called +Fatima, who was retired from the world, and of the miracles she +wrought. As he fancied that this woman might be serviceable to him in +the project he had conceived, he made more minute inquiries, and +requested to be informed more particularly who that holy woman was, +and what sort of miracles she performed. + +"What!" said the person whom he addressed, "have you never seen or +heard of her? She is the admiration of the whole town, for her +fasting, her austerities, and her exemplary life. Except Mondays and +Fridays, she never stirs out of her little cell; and on those days on +which she comes into the town she does an infinite deal of good; for +there is not a person who is diseased but she puts her hand on him and +cures him." + +Having ascertained the place where the hermitage of this holy woman +was, the magician went at night, and plunged a poniard into her +heart--killed this good woman. In the morning he dyed his face of the +same hue as hers, and arraying himself in her garb, taking her veil, +the large necklace she wore round her waist, and her stick, went +straight to the palace of Aladdin. + +As soon as the people saw the holy woman, as they imagined him to be, +they presently gathered about him in a great crowd. Some begged his +blessing, others kissed his hand, and others, more reserved, kissed +only the hem of his garment; while others, suffering from disease, +stooped for him to lay his hands upon them; which he did, muttering +some words in form of prayer, and, in short, counterfeiting so well +that everybody took him for the holy woman. He came at last to the +square before Aladdin's palace. The crowd and the noise were so great +that the princess, who was in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows, +heard it, and asked what was the matter. One of her women told her it +was a great crowd of people collected about the holy woman to be cured +of diseases by the imposition of her hands. + +The princess, who had long heard of this holy woman, but had never +seen her, was very desirous to have some conversation with her. The +chief officer perceiving this, told her it was an easy matter to bring +the woman to her if she desired and commanded it; and the princess +expressing her wishes, he immediately sent four slaves for the +pretended holy woman. + +As soon as the crowd saw the attendants from the palace, they made +way; and the magician, perceiving also that they were coming for him, +advanced to meet them, overjoyed to find his plot succeed so well. + +"Holy woman," said one of the slaves, "the princess wishes to see you, +and has sent us for you." + +"The princess does me too great an honor," replied the false Fatima; +"I am ready to obey her command." And at the same time he followed the +slaves to the palace. + +When the pretended Fatima had made his obeisance, the princess said, +"My good mother, I have one thing to request, which you must not +refuse me; it is, to stay with me, that you may edify me with your way +of living, and that I may learn from your good example." + +"Princess," said the counterfeit Fatima, "I beg of you not to ask what +I cannot consent to without neglecting my prayers and devotion." + +"That shall be no hindrance to you," answered the princess; "I have a +great many apartments unoccupied; you shall choose which you like +best, and have as much liberty to perform your devotions as if you +were in your own cell." + +The magician, who really desired nothing more than to introduce +himself into the palace, where it would be a much easier matter for +him to execute his designs, did not long excuse himself from accepting +the obliging offer which the princess made him. + +"Princess," said he, "whatever resolution a poor wretched woman as I +am may have made to renounce the pomp and grandeur of this world, I +dare not presume to oppose the will and commands of so pious and +charitable a princess." + +Upon this the princess, rising up, said, "Come with me. I will show +you what vacant apartments I have, that you may make choice of that +you like best." + +The magician followed the princess, and of all the apartments she +showed him, made choice of that which was the worst, saying that was +too good for him, and that he only accepted it to please her. + +Afterward the princess would have brought him back again into the +great hall to make him dine with her; but he, considering that he +should then be obliged to show his face, which he had always taken +care to conceal with Fatima's veil, and fearing that the princess +would find out that he was not Fatima, begged of her earnestly to +excuse him, telling her that he never ate anything but bread and dried +fruits, and desiring to eat that slight repast in his own apartment. + +The princess granted his request, saying, "You may be as free here, +good mother, as if you were in your own cell: I will order you a +dinner, but remember, I expect you as soon as you have finished your +repast." + +After the princess had dined, and the false Fatima had been sent for +by one of the attendants, he again waited upon her. "My good mother," +said the princess, "I am overjoyed to see so holy a woman as yourself, +who will confer a blessing upon this palace. But now I am speaking of +the palace, pray how do you like it? And before I show it all to you, +tell me first what you think of this hall." + +Upon this question, the counterfeit Fatima surveyed the hall from one +end to the other. When he had examined it well, he said to the +princess, "As far as such a solitary being as I am, who am +unacquainted with what the world calls beautiful, can judge, this hall +is truly admirable; there wants but one thing." + +"What is that, good mother?" demanded the princess; "tell me, I +conjure you. For my part, I always believed, and have heard say, it +wanted nothing; but if it does, it shall be supplied." + +"Princess," said the false Fatima, with great dis-simulation, "forgive +me the liberty I have taken; but my opinion is, if it can be of any +importance, that if a roc's egg were hung up in the middle of the +dome, this hall would have no parallel in the four quarters of the +world, and your palace would be the wonder of the universe." + +"My good mother," said the princess, "what is a roc, and where may one +get an egg?" + +"Princess," replied the pretended Fatima, "it is a bird of prodigious +size, which inhabits the summit of Mount Caucasus; the architect who +built your palace can get you one." + +After the princess had thanked the false Fatima for what she believed +her good advice, she conversed with her upon other matters; but she +could not forget the roc's egg, which she resolved to request of +Aladdin when next he should visit his apartments. He did so in the +course of that evening, and shortly after he entered, the princess +thus addressed him: "I always believed that our palace was the most +superb, magnificent, and complete in the world: but I will tell you +now what it wants, and that is a roc's egg hung up in the midst of the +dome." + +"Princess," replied Aladdin, "it is enough that you think it wants +such an ornament; you shall see by the diligence which I use in +obtaining it, that there is nothing which I would not do for your +sake." + +Aladdin left the Princess Buddir al Buddoor that moment, and went up +into the hall of four-and-twenty windows, where, pulling out of his +bosom the lamp, which after the danger he had been exposed to he +always carried about him, he rubbed it; upon which the genie +immediately appeared. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "I command thee, in the name of this lamp, +bring a roc's egg to be hung up in the middle of the dome of the hall +of the palace." + +Aladdin had no sooner pronounced these words than the hall shook as if +ready to fall; and the genie said, in a loud and terrible voice, "Is +it not enough that I and the other slaves of the lamp have done +everything for you, but you, by an unheard-of ingratitude, must +command me to bring my master, and hang him up in the midst of this +dome? This attempt deserves that you, the princess, and the palace +should be immediately reduced to ashes; but you are spared because +this request does not come from yourself. Its true author is the +brother of the African magician, your enemy whom you have destroyed. +He is now in your palace, disguised in the habit of the holy woman +Fatima, whom he has murdered; at his suggestion your wife makes this +pernicious demand. His design is to kill you; therefore take care of +yourself." After these words the genie disappeared. + +Aladdin resolved at once what to do. He returned to the princess's +apartment, and without mentioning a word of what had happened, sat +down, and complained of a great pain which had suddenly seized his +head. On hearing this, the princess told him how she had invited the +holy Fatima to stay with her, and that she was now in the palace; and +at the request of the prince, ordered her to be summoned to her at +once. + +When the pretended Fatima came, Aladdin said, "Come hither, good +mother; I am glad to see you here at so fortunate a time. I am +tormented with a violent pain in my head, and request your assistance, +and hope you will not refuse me that cure which you impart to +afflicted persons." + +So saying, he arose, but held down his head. The counterfeit Fatima +advanced toward him, with his hand all the time on a dagger concealed +in his girdle under his gown. Observing this, Aladdin snatched the +weapon from his hand, pierced him to the heart with his own dagger, +and then pushed him down on the floor. + +"My dear prince, what have you done?" cried the princess, in surprise. +"You have killed the holy woman!" + +"No, my princess," answered Aladdin, with emotion, "I have not killed +Fatima, but a villain who would have assassinated me, if I had not +prevented him. This wicked man," added he, uncovering his face, "is +the brother of the magician who attempted our ruin. He has strangled +the true Fatima, and disguised himself in her clothes with intent to +murder me." + +Aladdin then informed her how the genie had told him these facts, and +how narrowly she and the palace had escaped destruction though his +treacherous suggestion which had led to her request. + +Thus was Aladdin delivered from the persecution of the two brothers, +who were magicians. Within a few years the sultan died in a good old +age, and as he left no male children, the Princess Buddir al Buddoor +succeeded him, and she and Aladdin reigned together many years, and +left a numerous and illustrious posterity. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS KILLED BY ONE SLAVE + + +There once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named Cassim +and the other Ali Baba. Their father divided a small inheritance +equally between them. Cassim married a very rich wife, and became a +wealthy merchant. Ali Baba married a woman as poor as himself, and +lived by cutting wood, and bringing it upon three asses into the town +to sell. + +One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest and had just cut wood enough +to load his asses, he saw at a distance a great cloud of dust, which +seemed to approach him. He observed it with attention, and +distinguished soon after a body of horsemen, whom he suspected might +be robbers. He determined to leave his asses to save himself. He +climbed up a large tree, planted on a high rock, whose branches were +thick enough to conceal him, and yet enabled him to see all that +passed without being discovered. + +The troop, who were to the number of forty, all well mounted and +armed, came to the foot of the rock on which the tree stood, and there +dismounted. Every man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub, and +hung about his neck a bag of corn which they had brought behind them. +Then each of them took off his saddle-bag, which seemed to Ali Baba +from its weight to be full of gold and silver. One, whom he took to be +their captain, came under the tree in which Ali Baba was concealed; +and making his way through some shrubs, pronounced these words: +"Open, Sesame!"[49] As soon as the captain of the robbers had thus +spoken, a door opened in the rock; and after he had made all his troop +enter before him, he followed them, when the door shut again of +itself. + +[Footnote 49: "Sesame" is a small grain.] + +The robbers stayed some time within the rock, during which Ali Baba, +fearful of being caught, remained in the tree. + +At last the door opened again, and as the captain went in last, so he +came out first, and stood to see them all pass by him; when Ali Baba +heard him make the door close by pronouncing these words, "Shut, +Sesame!" Every man at once went and bridled his horse, fastened his +wallet, and mounted again. When the captain saw them all ready, he put +himself at their head, and they returned the way they had come. + +Ali Baba followed them with his eyes as far as he could see them; and +afterward stayed a considerable time before he descended. Remembering +the words the captain of the robbers used to cause the door to open +and shut, he had the curiosity to try if his pronouncing them would +have the same effect. Accordingly, he went among the shrubs, and +perceiving the door concealed behind them, stood before it, and said, +"Open, Sesame!" The door instantly flew wide open. + +Ali Baba, who expected a dark, dismal cavern, was surprised to see a +well-lighted and spacious chamber, which received the light from an +opening at the top of the rock, and in which were all sorts of +provisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade, and valuable +carpeting, piled upon one another, gold and silver ingots in great +heaps, and money in bags. The sight of all these riches made him +suppose that this cave must have been occupied for ages by robbers, +who had succeeded one another. + +Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and collected as much of the gold +coin, which was in bags, as he thought his three asses could carry. +When he had loaded them with the bags, he laid wood over them in such +a manner that they could not be seen. When he had passed in and out as +often as he wished, he stood before the door, and pronouncing the +words, "Shut, Sesame!" the door closed of itself. He then made the +best of his way to town. + +When Ali Baba got home he drove his asses into a little yard, shut the +gates very carefully, threw off the wood that covered the panniers, +carried the bags into his house, and ranged them in order before his +wife. He then emptied the bags, which raised such a great heap of gold +as dazzled his wife's eyes, and then he told her the whole adventure +from beginning to end, and, above all, recommended her to keep it +secret. + +The wife rejoiced greatly at their good fortune, and would count all +the gold piece by piece. + +"Wife," replied Ali Baba, "you do not know what you undertake, when +you pretend to count the money; you will never have done. I will dig a +hole, and bury it. There is no time to be lost." + +"You are in the right, husband," replied she, "but let us know, as +nigh as possible, how much we have. I will borrow a small measure, and +measure it, while you dig the hole." + +Away the wife ran to her brother-in-law Cassim, who lived just by, and +addressing herself to his wife, desired that she lend her a measure +for a little while. Her sister-in-law asked her whether she would have +a great or a small one. The other asked for a small one. She bade her +stay a little, and she would readily fetch one. + +The sister-in-law did so, but as she knew Ali Baba's poverty, she was +curious to know what sort of grain his wife wanted to measure, and +artfully putting some suet at the bottom of the measure, brought it to +her, with an excuse that she was sorry that she had made her stay so +long, but that she could not find it sooner. + +Ali Baba's wife went home, set the measure upon the heap of gold, +filled it, and emptied it often upon the sofa, till she had done, when +she was very well satisfied to find the number of measures amounted to +so many as they did, and went to tell her husband, who had almost +finished digging the hole. When Ali Baba was burying the gold, his +wife, to show her exactness and diligence to her sister-in-law, +carried the measure back again, but without taking notice that a piece +of gold had stuck to the bottom. + +"Sister," said she, giving it to her again, "you see that I have not +kept your measure long. I am obliged to you for it, and return it with +thanks." + +As soon as Ali Baba's wife was gone, Cassim's looked at the bottom of +the measure, and was in inexpressible surprise to find a piece of gold +sticking to it. Envy immediately possessed her breast. + +"What!" said she, "has Ali Baba gold so plentiful as to measure it? +Whence has he all this wealth?" + +Cassim, her husband, was at his counting house. When he came home his +wife said to him, "Cassim, I know you think yourself rich, but Ali +Baba is infinitely richer than you. He does not count his money, but +measures it." + +Cassim desired her to explain the riddle, which she did, by telling +him the stratagem she had used to make the discovery, and showed him +the piece of money, which was so old that they could not tell in what +prince's reign it was coined. + +Cassim, after he had married the rich widow, had never treated Ali +Baba as a brother, but neglected him; and now, instead of being +pleased, he conceived a base envy at his brother's prosperity. He +could not sleep all that night, and went to him in the morning before +sunrise. + +"Ali Baba," said he, "I am surprised at you. You pretend to be +miserably poor, and yet you measure gold. My wife found this at the +bottom of the measure you borrowed yesterday." + +By this discourse, Ali Baba perceived that Cassim and his wife, +through his own wife's folly, knew what they had so much reason to +conceal; but what was done could not be undone. Therefore, without +showing the least surprise or trouble, he confessed all, and offered +his brother part of his treasure to keep the secret. + +"I expect as much," replied Cassim haughtily; "but I must know exactly +where this treasure is, and how I may visit it myself when I choose. +Otherwise I will go and inform against you, and then you will not only +get no more, but will lose all you have, and I shall have a share for +my information." + +Ali Baba told him all he desired, even to the very words he was to use +to gain admission into the cave. + +Cassim rose the next morning long before the sun, and set out for the +forest with ten mules bearing great chests, which he designed to fill, +and followed the road which Ali Baba had pointed out to him. He was +not long before he reached the rock, and found out the place, by the +tree and other marks which his brother had given him. When he reached +the entrance of the cavern, he pronounced the words, "Open, Sesame!" +The door immediately opened, and, when he was in, closed upon him. In +examining the cave, he was in great admiration to find much more +riches than he had expected from Ali Baba's relation. He quickly laid +as many bags of gold as he could carry at the door of the cavern; but +his thoughts were so full of the great riches he should possess that +he could not think of the necessary word to make it open, but instead +of "Sesame," said, "Open, Barley!" and was much amazed to find that +the door remained fast shut. He named several sorts of grain, but +still the door would not open. + +Cassim had never expected such an incident, and was so alarmed at the +danger he was in, that the more he endeavored to remember the word +"Sesame," the more his memory was confounded, and he had as much +forgotten it as if he had never heard it mentioned. He threw down the +bags he had loaded himself with, and walked distractedly up and down +the cave, without having the least regard to the riches that were +around him. + +About noon the robbers visited their cave. At some distance they saw +Cassim's mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on their +backs. Alarmed at this, they galloped full speed to the cave. They +drove away the mules, who strayed through the forest so far that they +were soon out of sight, and went directly, with their naked sabers in +their hands, to the door, which, on their captain pronouncing the +proper words, immediately opened. + +Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses' feet, at once guessed the +arrival of the robbers, and resolved to make one effort for his life. +He rushed to the door, and no sooner saw the door open, than he ran +out and threw the leader down, but could not escape the other robbers, +who with their scimitars soon deprived him of life. + +The first care of the robbers after this was to examine the cave. They +found all the bags which Cassim had brought to the door, to be ready +to load his mules, and carried them again to their places, but they +did not miss what Ali Baba had taken away before. Then holding a +council, and deliberating upon this occurrence, they guessed that +Cassim, when he was in, could not get out again, but could not imagine +how he had learned the secret words by which alone he could enter. +They could not deny the fact of his being there; and to terrify any +person or accomplice who should attempt the same thing, they agreed to +cut Cassim's body into four quarters--to hang two on one side, and two +on the other, within the door of the cave. They had no sooner taken +this resolution than they put it in execution; and when they had +nothing more to detain them, left the place of their hoards well +closed. They mounted their horses, went to beat the roads again, and +to attack the caravans they might meet. + +In the meantime, Cassim's wife was very uneasy when night came, and +her husband was not returned. She ran to Ali Baba in great alarm, and +said, "I believe, brother-in-law, that you know Cassim is gone to the +forest, and upon what account. It is now night, and he has not +returned. I am afraid some misfortune has happened to him." + +Ali Baba told her that she need not frighten herself, for that +certainly Cassim would not think it proper to come into the town till +the night should be pretty far advanced. + +Cassim's wife, considering how much it concerned her husband to keep +the business secret, was the more easily persuaded to believe her +brother-in-law. She went home again, and waited patiently till +midnight. Then her fear redoubled, and her grief was the more sensible +because she was forced to keep it to herself. She repented of her +foolish curiosity, and cursed her desire of prying into the affairs of +her brother and sister-in-law. She spent all the night in weeping; and +as soon as it was day went to them, telling them, by her tears, the +cause of her coming. + +Ali Baba did not wait for his sister-in-law to desire him to go to see +what was become of Cassim, but departed immediately with his three +asses, begging of her first to moderate her grief. He went to the +forest, and when he came near the rock, having seen neither his +brother nor his mules on his way, was seriously alarmed at finding +some blood spilt near the door, which he took for an ill omen; but +when he had pronounced the word, and the door had opened, he was +struck with horror at the dismal sight of his brother's body. He was +not long in determining how he should pay the last dues to his +brother; but without adverting to the little fraternal affection he +had shown for him, went into the cave, to find something to enshroud +his remains. Having loaded one of his asses with them, he covered +them over with wood. The other two asses he loaded with bags of gold, +covering them with wood also as before; and then, bidding the door +shut, he came away; but was so cautious as to stop some time at the +end of the forest, that he might not go into the town before night. +When he came home he drove the two asses loaded with gold into his +little yard, and left the care of unloading them to his wife, while he +led the other to his sister-in-law's house. + +Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, a clever, +intelligent slave, who was fruitful in inventions to meet the most +difficult circumstances. When he came into the court he unloaded the +ass, and taking Morgiana aside, said to her, "You must observe an +inviolable secrecy. Your master's body is contained in these two +panniers. We must bury him as if he had died a natural death. Go now +and tell your mistress. I leave the matter to your wit and skillful +devices." + +Ali Baba helped to place the body in Cassim's house, again recommended +to Morgiana to act her part well, and then returned with his ass. + +Morgiana went out early the next morning to a druggist and asked for a +sort of lozenge which was considered efficacious in the most dangerous +disorders. The apothecary inquired who was ill. She replied, with a +sigh, her good master Cassim himself; and that he could neither eat +nor speak. + +In the evening Morgiana went to the same druggist again, and with +tears in her eyes, asked for an essence which they used to give to +sick people only when in the last extremity. + +"Alas!" said she, taking it from the apothecary, "I am afraid that +this remedy will have no better effect than the lozenges; and that I +shall lose my good master." + +On the other hand, as Ali Baba and his wife were often seen to go +between Cassim's and their own house all that day, and to seem +melancholy, nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the lamentable +shrieks and cries of Cassim's wife and Morgiana, who gave out +everywhere that her master was dead. The next morning at daybreak, +Morgiana went to an old cobbler whom she knew to be always ready at +his stall, and bidding him good morrow, put a piece of gold into his +hand, saying, "Baba Mustapha, you must bring with you your sewing +tackle, and come with me; but I must tell you, I shall blindfold you +when you come to such a place." + +Baba Mustapha seemed to hesitate a little at these words. "Oh! oh!" +replied he, "you would have me do something against my conscience, or +against my honor?" + +"God forbid," said Morgiana, putting another piece of gold into his +hand, "that I should ask anything that is contrary to your honor! Only +come along with me, and fear nothing." + +Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after she had bound his eyes +with a handkerchief at the place she had mentioned, conveyed him to +her deceased master's house, and never unloosed his eyes till he had +entered the room where she had put the corpse together. "Baba +Mustapha," said she, "you must make haste and sew the parts of this +body together; and when you have done, I will give you another piece +of gold." + +After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she blindfolded him again, +gave him the third piece of gold as she had promised, and +recommending secrecy to him, carried him back to the place where she +first bound his eyes, pulled off the bandage, and let him go home, but +watched him that he returned toward his stall, till he was quite out +of sight, for fear he should have the curiosity to return and dodge +her; she then went home. + +Morgiana, on her return, warmed some water to wash the body, and at +the same time Ali Baba perfumed it with incense, and wrapped it in the +burying clothes with the accustomed ceremonies. Not long after the +proper officer brought the bier, and when the attendants of the +mosque, whose business it was to wash the dead, offered to perform +their duty, she told them it was done already. Shortly after this the +imaun and the other ministers of the mosque arrived. Four neighbors +carried the corpse to the burying-ground, following the imaun, who +recited some prayers. Ali Baba came after with some neighbors, who +often relieved the others in carrying the bier to the burying-ground. +Morgiana, a slave to the deceased, followed in the procession, +weeping, beating her breast, and tearing her hair. Cassim's wife +stayed at home mourning, uttering lamentable cries with the women of +the neighborhood, who came, according to custom, during the funeral, +and joining their lamentations with hers filled the quarter far and +near with sounds of sorrow. + +In this manner Cassim's melancholy death was concealed and hushed up +between Ali Baba, his widow, and Morgiana his slave, with so much +contrivance that nobody in the city had the least knowledge or +suspicion of the cause of it. Three or four days after the funeral, +Ali Baba removed his few goods openly to his sister's house, in which +it was agreed that he should in future live; but the money he had +taken from the robbers he conveyed thither by night. As for Cassim's +warehouse, he intrusted it entirely to the management of his eldest +son. + +While these things were being done, the forty robbers again visited +their retreat in the forest. Great, then, was their surprise to find +Cassim's body taken away, with some of their bags of gold. "We are +certainly discovered," said the captain. "The removal of the body and +the loss of some of our money, plainly shows that the man whom we +killed had an accomplice: and for our own lives' sake we must try to +find him. What say you, my lads?" + +All the robbers unanimously approved of the captain's proposal. + +"Well," said the captain, "one of you, the boldest and most skillful +among you, must go into the town, disguised as a traveler and a +stranger, to try if he can hear any talk of the man whom we have +killed, and endeavor to find out who he was, and where he lived. This +is a matter of the first importance, and for fear of any treachery I +propose that whoever undertakes this business without success, even +though the failure arises only from an error of judgment, shall suffer +death." + +Without waiting for the sentiments of his companions, one of the +robbers started up, and said, "I submit to this condition, and think +it an honor to expose my life to serve the troop." + +After this robber had received great commendations from the captain +and his comrades, he disguised himself so that nobody would take him +for what he was; and taking his leave of the troop that night, he went +into the town just at daybreak. He walked up and down, till +accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha's stall, which was always open +before any of the shops. + +Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to work. +The robber saluted him, bidding him good morrow; and perceiving that +he was old, said, "Honest man, you begin to work very early; is it +possible that one of your age can see so well? I question, even if it +were somewhat lighter, whether you could see to stitch." + +"You do not know me," replied Baba Mustapha; "for old as I am, I have +extraordinary good eyes; and you will not doubt it when I tell you +that I sewed the body of a dead man together in a place where I had +not so much light as I have now." + +"A dead body!" exclaimed the robber, with affected amazement. + +"Yes, yes," answered Baba Mustapha. "I see you want me to speak out, +but you shall know no more." + +The robber felt sure that he had discovered what he sought. He pulled +out a piece of gold, and putting it into Baba Mustapha's hand, said to +him, "I do not want to learn your secret, though I can assure you you +might safely trust me with it. The only thing I desire of you is to +show me the house where you stitched up the dead body." + +"If I were disposed to do you that favor," replied Baba Mustapha, "I +assure you I cannot. I was taken to a certain place, whence I was led +blindfold to the house, and afterward brought back in the same manner. +You see, therefore, the impossibility of my doing what you desire." + +"Well," replied the robber, "you may, however, remember a little of +the way that you were led blindfold. Come, let me blind your eyes at +the same place. We will walk together; perhaps you may recognize some +part, and as every one should be paid for his trouble here is another +piece of gold for you; gratify me in what I ask you." So saying, he +put another piece of gold into his hand. + +The two pieces of gold were great temptations to Baba Mustapha. He +looked at them a long time in his hand, without saying a word, but at +last he pulled out his purse and put them in. + +"I cannot promise," said he to the robber, "that I can remember the +way exactly; but since you desire, I will try what I can do." + +At these words Baba Mustapha rose up, to the great joy of the robber, +and led him to the place where Morgiana had bound his eyes. + +"It was here," said Baba Mustapha, "I was blindfolded; and I turned +this way." + +The robber tied his handkerchief over his eyes, and walked by him till +he stopped directly at Cassim's house, where Ali Baba then lived. The +thief, before he pulled off the band, marked the door with a piece of +chalk, which he had ready in his hand, and then asked him if he knew +whose house that was; to which Baba Mustapha replied that as he did +not live in that neighborhood, he could not tell. + +The robber, finding that he could discover no more from Baba Mustapha, +thanked him for the trouble he had taken, and left him to go back to +his stall, while he returned to the forest, persuaded that he should +be very well received. + +A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha had parted, Morgiana went +out of Ali Baba's house upon some errand, and upon her return, seeing +the mark the robber had made, stopped to observe it. + +"What can be the meaning of this mark?" said she to herself. "Somebody +intends my master no good. However, with whatever intention it was +done, it is advisable to guard against the worst." + +Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two or three +doors on each side in the same manner, without saying a word to her +master or mistress. + +In the meantime the robber rejoined his troop in the forest, and +recounted to them his success, expatiating upon his good fortune in +meeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of what he +wanted to know. All the robbers listened to him with the utmost +satisfaction. Then the captain, after commending his diligence, +addressing himself to them all, said, "Comrades, we have no time to +lose. Let us set off well armed, without its appearing who we are; but +that we may not excite any suspicion, let only one or two go into the +town together, and join at our rendezvous, which shall be the great +square. In the meantime, our comrade who brought us the good news and +I will go and find out the house, that we may consult what had best be +done." + +This speech and plan was approved of by all, and they were soon ready. +They filed off in parties of two each, after some interval of time, +and got into the town without being in the least suspected. The +captain, and he who had visited the town in the morning as spy, came +in the last. He led the captain into the street where he had marked +Ali Baba's residence; and when they came to the first of the houses +which Morgiana had marked, he pointed it out. But the captain observed +that the next door was chalked in the same manner, and in the same +place; and showing it to his guide, asked him which house it was, +that, or the first. The guide was so confounded, that he knew not what +answer to make; but he was still more puzzled when he and the captain +saw five or six houses similarly marked. He assured the captain, with +an oath, that he had marked but one, and could not tell who had +chalked the rest, so that he could not distinguish the house which the +cobbler had stopped at. + +The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive, went +directly to their place of rendezvous, and told his troop that they +had lost their labor, and must return to their cave. He himself set +them the example, and they all returned as they had come. + +When the troop was all got together, the captain told them the reason +of their returning; and presently the conductor was declared by all +worthy of death. He condemned himself, acknowledging that he ought to +have taken better precaution, and prepared to receive the stroke from +him who was appointed to cut off his head. + +But as the safety of the troop required the discovery of the second +intruder into the cave, another of the gang, who promised himself that +he should succeed better, presented himself, and his offer being +accepted he went and corrupted Baba Mustapha as the other had done; +and being shown the house, marked it in a place more remote from +sight, with red chalk. + +Not long after, Morgiana, whose eyes nothing could escape, went out, +and seeing the red chalk, and arguing with herself as she had done +before, marked the other neighbors' houses in the same place and +manner. + +The robber, on his return to his company, valued himself much on the +precaution he had taken, which he looked upon as an infallible way of +distinguishing Ali Baba's house from the others; and the captain and +all of them thought it must succeed. They conveyed themselves into the +town with the same precaution as before; but when the robber and his +captain came to the street, they found the same difficulty; at which +the captain was enraged, and the robber in as great confusion as his +predecessor. + +Thus the captain and his troop were forced to retire a second time, +and much more dissatisfied; while the robber who had been the author +of the mistake underwent the same punishment, which he willingly +submitted to. + +The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was afraid of +diminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to get information of +the residence of their plunderer. He found by their example that their +heads were not so good as their hands on such occasions; and therefore +resolved to take upon himself the important commission. + +Accordingly, he went and addressed himself to Baba Mustapha, who did +him the same service he had done to the other robbers. He did not set +any particular mark on the house, but examined and observed it so +carefully, by passing often by it, that it was impossible for him to +mistake it. + +The captain, well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of what he +wanted to know, returned to the forest: and when he came into the +cave, where the troop waited for him, said, "Now, comrades, nothing +can prevent our full revenge, as I am certain of the house; and on my +way hither I have thought how to put it into execution, but if any one +can form a better expedient, let him communicate it." + +He then told them his contrivance; and as they approved of it, ordered +them to go into the villages about, and buy nineteen mules, with +thirty-eight large leather jars, one full of oil, and the others +empty. + +In two or three days' time the robbers had purchased the mules and +jars, and as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow for his +purpose, the captain caused them to be widened, and after having put +one of his men into each, with the weapons which he thought fit, +leaving open the seam which had been undone to leave them room to +breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with oil from the full +vessel. + +Things being thus prepared, when the nineteen mules were loaded with +thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, the captain, as +their driver, set out with them, and reached the town by the dusk of +the evening, as he had intended. He led them through the streets, till +he came to Ali Baba's, at whose door he designed to have knocked; but +was prevented by his sitting there after supper to take a little fresh +air. He stopped his mules, addressed himself to him, and said, "I have +brought some oil a great way, to sell at tomorrow's market; and it is +now so late that I do not know where to lodge. If I should not be +troublesome to you, do me the favor to let me pass the night with +you, and I shall be very much obliged by your hospitality." + +Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest, and +had heard him speak, it was impossible to know him in the disguise of +an oil merchant. He told him he should be welcome, and immediately +opened his gates for the mules to go into the yard. At the same time +he called to a slave, and ordered him, when the mules were unloaded, +to put them into the stable, and to feed them; and then went to +Morgiana, to bid her get a good supper for his guest. + +After they had finished supper, Ali Baba, charging Morgiana afresh to +take care of his guest, said to her, "To-morrow morning I design to go +to the bath before day; take care my bathing linen be ready, give them +to Abdalla (which was the slave's name), and make me some good broth +against I return." After this he went to bed. + +In the meantime the captain of the robbers went into the yard, and +took off the lid of each jar, and gave his people orders what to do. +Beginning at the first jar, and so on to the last, he said to each +man: "As soon as I throw some stones out of the chamber window where I +lie, do not fail to come out, and I will immediately join you." + +After this he returned into the house, when Morgiana, taking up a +light, conducted him to his chamber, where she left him; and he, to +avoid any suspicion, put the light out soon after, and laid himself +down in his clothes, that he might be the more ready to rise. + +Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba's orders, got his bathing linen ready, +and ordered Abdalla to set on the pot for the broth; but while she was +preparing it the lamp went out, and there was no more oil in the +house, nor any candles. What to do she did not know, for the broth +must be made. Abdalla, seeing her very uneasy, said, "do not fret and +tease yourself, but go into the yard, and take some oil out of one of +the jars." + +Morgiana thanked Abdalla for his advice, took the oil pot, and went +into the yard; when, as she came nigh the first jar, the robber within +said softly, "Is it time?" + +Though naturally much surprised at finding a man in the jar instead of +the oil she wanted, she immediately felt the importance of keeping +silence, as Ali Baba, his family, and herself were in great danger; +and collecting herself, without showing the least emotion, she +answered, "Not yet, but presently." She went quietly in this manner to +all the jars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil. + +By this means Morgiana found that her master Ali Baba had admitted +thirty-eight robbers into his house, and that this pretended oil +merchant was their captain. She made what haste she could to fill her +oil pot, and returned into the kitchen, where, as soon as she had +lighted her lamp, she took a great kettle, went again to the oil jar, +filled the kettle, set it on a large wood fire, and as soon as it +boiled, went and poured enough into every jar to stifle and destroy +the robber within. + +When this action, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was executed +without any noise, as she had projected, she returned into the kitchen +with the empty kettle; and having put out the great fire she had made +to boil the oil, and leaving just enough to make the broth, put out +the lamp also, and remained silent, resolving not to go to rest till, +through a window of the kitchen, which opened into the yard, she had +seen what might follow. + +She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up, +opened the window, and, finding no light and hearing no noise or any +one stirring in the house, gave the appointed signal, by throwing +little stones, several of which hit the jars, as he doubted not by the +sound they gave. He then listened, but not hearing or perceiving +anything whereby he could judge that his companions stirred, he began +to grow very uneasy, threw stones again a second and also a third +time, and could not comprehend the reason that none of them should +answer his signal. Much alarmed, he went softly down into the yard, +and going to the first jar, while asking the robber, whom he thought +alive, if he was in readiness, smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent +forth a steam out of the jar. Hence he knew that his plot to murder +Ali Baba and plunder his house was discovered. Examining all the jars, +one after another, he found that all his gang were dead; and, enraged +to despair at having failed in his design, he forced the lock of a +door that led from the yard to the garden, and climbing over the walls +made his escape. + +When Morgiana saw him depart, she went to bed, satisfied and pleased +to have succeeded so well in saving her master and family. + +Ali Baba rose before day, and, followed by his slave, went to the +baths, entirely ignorant of the important event which had happened at +home. + +When he returned from the baths he was very much surprised to see the +oil jars, and to learn that the merchant was not gone with the mules. +He asked Morgiana, who opened the door, the reason of it. + +"My good master," answered she, "God preserve you and all your family. +You will be better informed of what you wish to know when you have +seen what I have to show you, if you will follow me." + +As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali Baba followed her, when she +requested him to look into the first jar, and see if there was any +oil. Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back in alarm, and +cried out. + +"Do not be afraid," said Morgiana; "the man you see there can neither +do you nor anybody else any harm. He is dead." + +"Ah, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "what is it you show me? Explain +yourself." + +"I will," replied Morgiana. "Moderate your astonishment, and do not +excite the curiosity of your neighbors; for it is of great importance +to keep this affair secret. Look into all the other jars." + +Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after another; and when he +came to that which had the oil in it, found it prodigiously sunk, and +stood for some time motionless, sometimes looking at the jars and +sometimes at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great was his +surprise. + +At last, when he had recovered himself, he said, "And what is become +of the merchant?" + +"Merchant!" answered she; "he is as much one as I am. I will tell you +who he is, and what is become of him; but you had better hear the +story in your own chamber; for it is time for your health that you had +your broth after your bathing." + +Morgiana then told him all she had done, from the first observing the +mark upon the house, to the destruction of the robbers, and the flight +of their captain. + +On hearing of these brave deeds from the lips of Morgiana, Ali Baba +said to her--"God, by your means, has delivered me from the snares of +these robbers laid for my destruction. I owe, therefore, my life to +you; and, for the first token of my acknowledgment, I give you your +liberty from this moment, till I can complete your recompense as I +intend." + +Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the farther end by a +great number of large trees. Near these he and the slave Abdalla dug a +trench, long and wide enough to hold the bodies of the robbers; and as +the earth was light, they were not long in doing it. When this was +done, Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as he had no occasion for +the mules, he sent them at different times to be sold in the market by +his slave. + +While Ali Baba was taking these measures the captain of the forty +robbers returned to the forest with inconceivable mortification. He +did not stay long; the loneliness of the gloomy cavern became +frightful to him. He determined, however, to avenge the death of his +companions, and to accomplish the death of Ali Baba. For this purpose +he returned to the town, and took a lodging in a khan, disguising +himself as a merchant in silks. Under this assumed character he +gradually conveyed a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen to +his lodging from the cavern, but with all the necessary precautions to +conceal the place whence he brought them. In order to dispose of the +merchandise, when he had thus amassed them together, he took a +warehouse, which happened to be opposite to Cassim's, which Ali Baba's +son had occupied since the death of his uncle. + +He took the name of Cogia Houssain, and, as a newcomer, was, according +to custom, extremely civil and complaisant to all the merchants his +neighbors. Ali Baba's son was, from his vicinity, one of the first to +converse with Cogia Houssain, who strove to cultivate his friendship +more particularly. Two or three days after he was settled, Ali Baba +came to see his son, and the captain of the robbers recognized him at +once, and soon learned from his son who he was. After this he +increased his assiduities, caressed him in the most engaging manner, +made him some small presents, and often asked him to dine and sup with +him, when he treated him very handsomely. + +Ali Baba's son did not choose to lie under such obligation to Cogia +Houssain; but was so much straitened for want of room in his house +that he could not entertain him. He therefore acquainted his father, +Ali Baba, with his wish to invite him in return. + +Ali Baba with great pleasure took the treat upon himself. "Son," said +he, "to-morrow being Friday, which is a day that the shops of such +great merchants as Cogia Houssain and yourself are shut, get him to +accompany you, and as you pass by my door, call in. I will go and +order Morgiana to provide a supper." + +The next day Ali Baba's son and Cogia Houssain met by appointment, +took their walk, and as they returned, Ali Baba's son led Cogia +Houssain through the street where his father lived, and when they came +to the house, stopped and knocked at the door. + +"This, sir," said he, "is my father's house, who, from the account I +have given him of your friendship, charged me to procure him the honor +of your acquaintance; and I desire you to add this pleasure to those +for which I am already indebted to you." + +Though it was the sole aim of Cogia Houssain to introduce himself into +Ali Baba's house, that he might kill him without hazarding his own +life or making any noise, yet he excused himself, and offered to take +his leave; but a slave having opened the door, Ali Baba's son took him +obligingly by the hand, and, in a manner, forced him in. + +Ali Baba received Cogia Houssain with a smiling countenance, and in +the most obliging manner he could wish. He thanked him for all the +favors he had done his son; adding, withal, the obligation was the +greater as he was a young man, not much acquainted with the world, and +that he might contribute to his information. + +Cogia Houssain returned the compliment by assuring Ali Baba that +though his son might not have acquired the experience of older men, he +had good sense equal to the experience of many others. After a little +more conversation on different subjects, he offered again to take his +leave, when Ali Baba, stopping him, said, "Where are you going, sir, +in so much haste? I beg you will do me the honor to sup with me, +though my entertainment may not be worthy your acceptance. Such as it +is, I heartily offer it." + +"Sir," replied Cogia Houssain, "I am thoroughly persuaded of your good +will; but the truth is, I can eat no victuals that have any salt in +them; therefore judge how I should feel at your table." + +"If that is the only reason," said Ali Baba, "it ought not to deprive +me of the honor of your company; for, in the first place, there is no +salt ever put into my bread, and as to the meat we shall have +to-night, I promise you there shall be none in that. Therefore you +must do me the favor to stay. I will return immediately." + +[Illustration: _She drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand, +began a dance Page 242_] + +Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to put no salt to +the meat that was to be dressed that night; and to make quickly two or +three ragouts besides what he had ordered, but be sure to put no salt +in them. + +Morgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could not help +being surprised at his strange order. + +"Who is this strange man," said she, "who eats no salt with his meat? +Your supper will be spoiled, if I keep it back so long." + +"Do not be angry, Morgiana," replied Ali Baba. "He is an honest man, +therefore do as I bid you." + +Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a curiosity +to see this man who ate no salt. To this end, when she had finished +what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdalla to carry up the +dishes; and looking at Cogia Houssain, she knew him at first sight, +notwithstanding his disguise, to be the captain of the robbers, and +examining him very carefully, perceived that he had a dagger under his +garment. + +"I am not in the least amazed," said she to herself, "that this wicked +man, who is my master's greatest enemy, would eat no salt with him, +since he intends to assassinate him; but I will prevent him." + +Morgiana, while they were at supper, determined in her own mind to +execute one of the boldest acts ever meditated. When Abdalla came for +the dessert of fruit, and had put it with the wine and glasses before +Ali Baba, Morgiana retired, dressed herself neatly with a suitable +headdress like a dancer, girded her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, +to which there hung a poniard with a hilt and guard of the same metal, +and put a handsome mask on her face. When she had thus disguised +herself, she said to Abdalla, "Take your tabor, and let us go and +divert our master and his son's friend, as we do sometimes when he is +alone." + +Abdalla took his tabor, and played all the way into the hall before +Morgiana, who, when she came to the door, made a low obeisance by way +of asking leave to exhibit her skill, while Abdalla left off playing. + +"Come in, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Cogia Houssain see what +you can do, that he may tell us what he thinks of your performance." + +Cogia Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after supper, began +to fear he should not be able to take advantage of the opportunity he +thought he had found; but hoped, if he now missed his aim, to secure +it another time, by keeping up a friendly correspondence with the +father and son; therefore, though he could have wished Ali Baba would +have declined the dance, he pretended to be obliged to him for it, and +had the complaisance to express his satisfaction at what he saw, which +pleased his host. + +As soon as Abdalla saw that Ali Baba and Cogia Houssain had done +talking, he began to play on the tabor, and accompanied it with an +air, to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, danced in such +a manner as would have created admiration in any company. + +After she had danced several dances with much grace, she drew the +poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance in which she outdid +herself by the many different figures, light movements, and the +surprising leaps and wonderful exertions with which she accompanied +it. Sometimes she presented the poniard to one breast, sometimes to +another, and oftentimes seemed to strike her own. At last, she +snatched the tabor from Abdalla with her left hand, and holding the +dagger in her right presented the other side of the tabor, after the +manner of those who get a livelihood by dancing, and solicit the +liberality of the spectators. + +Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as did also his son; and +Cogia Houssain, seeing that she was coming to him, had pulled his +purse out of his bosom to make her a present; but while he was putting +his hand into it, Morgiana, with a courage and resolution worthy of +herself, plunged the poniard into his heart. + +Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud. + +"Unhappy woman!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have you done, to ruin me +and my family?" + +"It was to preserve, not to ruin you," answered Morgiana; "for see +here," continued she, opening the pretended Cogia Houssain's garment, +and showing the dagger, "what an enemy you had entertained! Look well +at him, and you will find him to be both the fictitious oil merchant, +and the captain of the gang of forty robbers. Remember, too, that he +would eat no salt with you; and what would you have more to persuade +you of his wicked design? Before I saw him, I suspected him as soon as +you told me you had such a guest. I knew him, and you now find that my +suspicion was not groundless." + +Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to Morgiana +for saving his life a second time, embraced her: "Morgiana," said he, +"I gave you your liberty, and then promised you that my gratitude +should not stop there, but that I would soon give you higher proofs of +its sincerity, which I now do by making you my daughter-in-law." + +Then addressing himself to his son, he said, "I believe you, son, to +be so dutiful a child, that you will not refuse Morgiana for your +wife. You see that Cogia Houssain sought your friendship with a +treacherous design to take away my life; and if he had succeeded, +there is no doubt but he would have sacrificed you also to his +revenge. Consider, that by marrying Morgiana you marry the preserver +of my family and your own." + +The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to the +marriage; not only because he would not disobey his father, but also +because it was agreeable to his inclination. After this they thought +of burying the captain of the robbers with his comrades, and did it so +privately that nobody discovered their bones till many years after, +when no one had any concern in the publication of this remarkable +history. A few days afterward, Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of his +son and Morgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the +usual dancing and spectacles; and had the satisfaction to see that his +friends and neighbors, whom he invited, had no knowledge of the true +motives of the marriage; but that those who were not unacquainted with +Morgiana's good qualities commended his generosity and goodness of +heart. Ali Baba did not visit the robber's cave for a whole year, as +he supposed the other two, whom he could get no account of, might be +alive. + +At the year's end, when he found they had not made any attempt to +disturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey. He mounted +his horse, and when he came to the cave he alighted, tied his horse to +a tree, and approaching the entrance, pronounced the words, "Open, +Sesame!" and the door opened. He entered the cavern, and by the +condition he found things in, judged that nobody had been there since +the captain had fetched the goods for his shop. From this time he +believed he was the only person in the world who had the secret of +opening the cave, and that all the treasure was at his sole disposal. +He put as much gold into his saddle-bag as his horse would carry, and +returned to town. Some years later he carried his son to the cave, and +taught him the secret, which he handed down to his posterity, who, +using their good fortune with moderation, lived in great honor and +splendor. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR [50] + + +In the reign of the same caliph, Haroun al Raschid, of whom we have +already heard, there lived at Bagdad a poor porter, called Hindbad. +One day, when the weather was excessively hot, he was employed to +carry a heavy burden from one end of the town to the other. Being much +fatigued, he took off his load, and sat upon it, near a large mansion. + +He was much pleased that he stopped at this place, for the agreeable +smell of wood of aloes and of pastils, that came from the house, +mixing with the scent of the rose water, completely perfumed and +embalmed the air. Besides, he heard from within a concert of +instrumental music, accompanied with the harmonious notes of +nightingales and other birds. This charming melody, and the smell of +several sorts of savory dishes, made the porter conclude there was a +feast, with great rejoicings within. His business seldom leading him +that way, he knew not to whom the mansion belonged; but he went to +some of the servants, whom he saw standing at the gate in magnificent +apparel, and asked the name of the proprietor. + +"How," replied one of them, "do you live in Bagdad, and know not that +this is the house of Sindbad the sailor, that famous voyager, who has +sailed round the world?" + +[Footnote 50: These voyages of Sindbad are among the most curious of +the tales contained in the Arabian Nights. They deserve a passing word +of remark. Mr. Richard Hole of Exeter, about a century since, wrote a +treatise upon them. He shows that while they must be regarded in many +respects as fabulous, yet that they illustrate the early stories +prevalent about strange countries. The earlier writers, as Plutarch, +Aelian, Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny, mention the incidents related in +these tales, as also do the earliest modern travelers, the Venetian +Marco Polo, and the English Sir John Mandeville.] + +The porter lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, loud enough to be +heard, "Almighty Creator of all things, consider the difference +between Sindbad and me! I am every day exposed to fatigues and +calamities, and can scarcely get coarse barley bread for myself and my +family, while happy Sindbad profusely expends immense riches, and +leads a life of continual pleasure. What has he done to obtain from +Thee a lot so agreeable? And what have I done to deserve one so +wretched?" + +While the porter was thus indulging his melancholy, a servant came out +of the house, and taking him by the arm, bade him follow him, for +Sindbad, his master, wanted to speak to him. + +The servant brought him into a great hall, where a number of people +sat round a table covered with all sorts of savory dishes. At the +upper end sat a comely, venerable gentleman, with a long white beard, +and behind him stood a number of officers and domestics, all ready to +attend his pleasure. This person was Sindbad. Hindbad, whose fear was +increased at the sight of so many people, and of a banquet so +sumptuous, saluted the company, trembling. Sindbad bade him draw near, +and seating him at his right hand, served him himself, and gave him +excellent wine, of which there was abundance upon the sideboard. + +Now Sindbad had himself heard the porter complain through the window, +and this it was that induced him to have him brought in. When the +repast was over, Sindbad addressed his conversation to Hindbad, and +inquired his name and employment, and said, "I wish to hear from your +own mouth what it was you lately said in the street." + +At this request, Hindbad hung down his head in confusion, and replied, +"My lord, I confess that my fatigue put me out of humor and occasioned +me to utter some indiscreet words, which I beg you to pardon." + +"Do not think I am so unjust," resumed Sindbad, "as to resent such a +complaint. But I must rectify your error concerning myself. You think, +no doubt, that I have acquired without labor and trouble the ease and +indulgence which I now enjoy. But do not mistake; I did not attain to +this happy condition without enduring for several years more trouble +of body and mind than can well be imagined. Yes, gentlemen," he added, +speaking to the whole company, "I assure you that my sufferings have +been of a nature so extraordinary as would deprive the greatest miser +of his love of riches; and as an opportunity now offers, I will, with +your leave, relate the dangers I have encountered, which I think will +not be uninteresting to you." + + +THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +My father was a wealthy merchant of much repute. He bequeathed me a +large estate, which I wasted in riotous living. I quickly perceived my +error, and that I was misspending my time, which is of all things the +most valuable. I remembered the saying of the great Solomon, which I +had frequently heard from my father, "A good name is better than +precious ointment," and again, "Wisdom is good with an inheritance." +Struck with these reflections, I resolved to walk in my father's ways, +and I entered into a contract with some merchants, and embarked with +them on board a ship we had jointly fitted out. + +We set sail, and steered our course toward the Indies, through the +Persian Gulf, which is formed by the coasts of Arabia Felix on the +right, and by those of Persia on the left. At first I was troubled +with seasickness, but speedily recovered my health, and was not +afterward subject to that complaint. + +In our voyage we touched at several islands, where we sold or +exchanged our goods. One day, while under sail, we were becalmed near +a small island, but little elevated above the level of the water, and +resembling a green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be furled, +and permitted such persons as were so inclined to land; of this number +I was one. + +But while we were enjoying ourselves in eating and drinking, and +recovering ourselves from the fatigue of the sea, the island on a +sudden trembled, and shook us terribly. + +The trembling of the island was perceived on board the ship, and we +were called upon to reëmbark speedily, or we should all be lost; for +what we took for an island proved to be the back[51] of a sea monster. +The nimblest got into the sloop, others betook themselves to swimming; +but as for myself, I was still upon the island when it disappeared +into the sea, and I had only time to catch hold of a piece of wood +that we had brought out of the ship to make a fire. Meanwhile the +captain, having received those on board who were in the sloop, and +taken up some of those that swam, resolved to improve the favorable +gale that had just risen, and hoisting his sails pursued his voyage, +so that it was impossible for me to recover the ship. + +[Footnote 51: Milton thus describes the Leviathan: + + "How haply slumbering on the Norway foam, + The pilot of some small night-founder'd skiff, + Deeming some island, oft as seamen tell, + With fixed anchor in his scally rind + Moors by his side."] + +Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves all the rest of the day +and the following night. By this time I found my strength gone, and +despaired of saving my life, when happily a wave threw me against an +island. The bank was high and rugged, so that I could scarcely have +got up had it not been for some roots of trees which I found within +reach. When the sun arose, though I was very feeble, both from hard +labor and want of food, I crept along to find some herbs fit to eat, +and had the good luck not only to procure some, but likewise to +discover a spring of excellent water, which contributed much to +recover me. After this I advanced farther into the island, and at last +reached a fine plain, where I perceived some horses feeding. I went +toward them, when I heard the voice of a man, who immediately +appeared, and asked me who I was. I related to him my adventure, after +which, taking me by the hand, he led me into a cave, where there were +several other people, no less amazed to see me than I was to see them. + +I partook of some provisions which they offered me. I then asked them +what they did in such a desert place; to which they answered that they +were grooms belonging to the maharaja, sovereign of the island, and +that every year they brought thither the king's horses for pasturage. +They added that they were to return home on the morrow, and had I been +one day later I must have perished, because the inhabited part of the +island was a great distance off, and it would have been impossible for +me to have got thither without a guide. + +Next morning they returned to the capital of the island, took me with +them, and presented me to the maharaja. He asked me who I was, and by +what adventure I had come into his dominions. After I had satisfied +him, he told me he was much concerned for my misfortune, and at the +same time ordered that I should want for nothing; which commands his +officers were so generous and careful as to see exactly fulfilled. + +Being a merchant, I frequented men of my own profession, and +particularly inquired for those who were strangers, that perchance I +might hear news from Bagdad, or find an opportunity to return. For the +maharaja's capital is situated on the seacoast, and has a fine harbor, +where ships arrive daily from the different quarters of the world. I +frequented also the society of the learned Indians, and took delight +to hear them converse; but withal, I took care to make my court +regularly to the maharaja, and conversed with the governors and petty +kings, his tributaries, that were about him. They put a thousand +questions respecting my country; and I, being willing to inform myself +as to their laws and customs, asked them concerning everything which I +thought worth knowing. + +There belongs to this king an island named Cassel. They assured me +that every night a noise of drums was heard there, whence the mariners +fancied that it was the residence of Gegial. I determined to visit +this wonderful place, and in my way thither saw fishes of one hundred +and two hundred cubits long, that occasion more fear than hurt; for +they are so timorous that they will fly upon the rattling of two +sticks or boards. I saw likewise other fish, about a cubit in length, +that had heads like owls. + +As I was one day at the port after my return, the ship arrived in +which I had embarked at Bussorah. I at once knew the captain, and I +went and asked him for my bales. "I am Sindbad," said I, "and those +bales marked with his name are mine." + +When the captain heard me speak thus, "Heavens!" he exclaimed, "whom +can we trust in these times! I saw Sindbad perish with my own eyes, as +did also the passengers on board, and yet you tell me you are that +Sindbad. What impudence is this! And what a false tale to tell, in +order to possess yourself of what does not belong to you!" + +"Have patience," replied I. "Do me the favor to hear what I have to +say." + +The captain was at length persuaded that I was no cheat; for there +came people from his ship who knew me, paid me great compliments, and +expressed much joy at seeing me alive. At last he recollected me +himself, and embracing me, "Heaven be praised," said he, "for your +happy escape! I cannot express the joy it affords me. There are your +goods; take and do with them as you please." + +I took out what was most valuable in my bales, and presented them to +the maharaja, who, knowing my misfortune, asked me how I came by such +rarities. I acquainted him with the circumstance of their recovery. He +was pleased at my good luck, accepted my present, and in return gave +me one much more considerable. Upon this I took leave of him, and went +aboard the same ship after I had exchanged my goods for the +commodities of that country. I carried with me wood of aloes, sandals, +camphor, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger. We passed by several +islands, and at last arrived at Bussorah, from whence I came to this +city, with the value of one hundred thousand sequins. + + * * * * * + +Sindbad stopped here, and ordered the musicians to proceed with their +concert, which the story had interrupted. When it was evening, Sindbad +sent for a purse of one hundred sequins, and giving it to the porter, +said, "Take this, Hindbad, return to your home, and come back +to-morrow to hear more of my adventures." The porter went away, +astonished at the honor done him, and the present made him. The +account of this adventure proved very agreeable to his wife and +children, who did not fail to return thanks for what Providence had +sent them by the hand of Sindbad. + +Hindbad put on his best robe next day, and returned to the bountiful +traveler, who received him with a pleasant air, and welcomed him +heartily. When all the guests had arrived, dinner was served, and +continued a long time. When it was ended, Sindbad, addressing himself +to the company, said, "Gentlemen, be pleased to listen to the +adventures of my second voyage. They deserve your attention even more +than those of the first." + +Upon which every one held his peace, and Sindbad proceeded. + + +THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days at +Bagdad, but it was not long ere I grew weary of an indolent life, and +I put to sea a second time, with merchants of known probity. We +embarked on board a good ship, and, after recommending ourselves to +God, set sail. We traded from island to island, and exchanged +commodities with great profit. One day we landed on an island covered +with several sorts of fruit trees, but we could see neither man nor +animal. We walked in the meadows, along the streams that watered them. +While some diverted themselves with gathering flowers, and others +fruits, I took my wine and provisions, and sat down near a stream +betwixt two high trees, which formed a thick shade. I made a good +meal, and afterward fell sleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but +when I awoke the ship was gone. + +In this sad condition I was ready to die with grief. I cried out in +agony, beat my head and breast, and threw myself upon the ground, +where I lay some time in despair. I upbraided myself a hundred times +for not being content with the produce of my first voyage, that might +have sufficed me all my life. But all this was in vain, and my +repentance came too late. At last I resigned myself to the will of +God. Not knowing what to do, I climbed to the top of a lofty tree, +from whence I looked about on all sides, to see if I could discover +anything that could give me hope. When I gazed toward the sea I could +see nothing but sky and water; but looking over the land, I beheld +something white; and coming down, I took what provision I had left and +went toward it, the distance being so great that I could not +distinguish what it was. + +As I approached, I thought it to be a white dome, of a prodigious +height and extent; and when I came up to it, I touched it, and found +it to be very smooth. I went round to see if it was open on any side, +but saw it was not, and that there was no climbing up to the top, as +it was so smooth. It was at least fifty paces round. + +By this time the sun was about to set, and all of a sudden the sky +became as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was +much astonished at this sudden darkness, but much more when I found it +was occasioned by a bird of a monstrous size, that came flying toward +me. I remembered that I had often heard mariners speak of a miraculous +bird called the roc,[52] and conceived that the great dome which I so +much admired must be its egg. In short, the bird alighted, and sat +over the egg. As I perceived her coming, I crept close to the egg, so +that I had before me one of the legs of the bird, which was as big as +the trunk of a tree. I tied myself strongly to it with my turban, in +hopes that the roc next morning would carry me with her out of this +desert island. After having passed the night in this condition, the +bird flew away as soon as it was daylight, and carried me so high that +I could not discern the earth; she afterward descended with so much +rapidity that I lost my senses. But when I found myself on the ground, +I speedily untied the knot, and had scarcely done so, when the roc, +having taken up a serpent of a monstrous length in her bill, flew +away. + +The spot where it left me was encompassed on all sides by mountains, +that seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep that there was no +possibility of getting out of the valley. This was a new perplexity; +so that when I compared this place with the desert island from which +the roc had brought me, I found that I had gained nothing by the +change. + +[Footnote 52: Mr. More, in his account of these voyages, says that +Marco Polo, in his _Travels_, and Father Martini, in his _History of +China_, speak of this bird, called _ruch_, and say it will take up an +elephant and a rhinoceros. It is as fabulous as the dodo, the +salamander, or the phoenix.] + +As I walked through this valley, I perceived it was strewn with +diamonds, some of which were of surprising bigness. I took pleasure in +looking upon them; but shortly I saw at a distance such objects as +greatly diminished my satisfaction, and which I could not view without +terror, namely, a great number of serpents, so monstrous that the +least of them was capable of swallowing an elephant. They retired in +the daytime to their dens, where they hid themselves from the roc, +their enemy, and came out only in the night. + +I spent the day in walking about in the valley, resting myself at +times in such places as I thought most convenient. When night came on +I went into a cave, where I thought I might repose in safety. I +secured the entrance, which was low and narrow, with a great stone, to +preserve me from the serpents; but not so far as to exclude the light. +I supped on part of my provisions, but the serpents, which began +hissing round me, put me into such extreme fear that I did not sleep. +When day appeared the serpents retired, and I came out of the cave, +trembling. I can justly say that I walked upon diamonds without +feeling any inclination to touch them. At last I sat down, and +notwithstanding my apprehensions, not having closed my eyes during the +night, fell asleep, after having eaten a little more of my provisions. +But I had scarcely shut my eyes when something that fell by me with a +great noise awakened me. This was a large piece of raw meat; and at +the same time I saw several others fall down from the rocks in +different places. + +I had always regarded as fabulous what I had heard sailors and others +relate of the valley of diamonds, and of the stratagems employed by +merchants to obtain jewels from thence; but now I found that they had +stated nothing but the truth. For the fact is, that the merchants come +to the neighborhood of this valley, when the eagles have young ones, +and throwing great joints of meat into the valley, the diamonds, upon +whose points they fall, stick to them; the eagles, which are stronger +in this country than anywhere else, pounce with great force upon those +pieces of meat, and carry them to their nests on the precipices of the +rocks to feed their young: the merchants at this time run to their +nests, disturb and drive off the eagles by their shouts, and take away +the diamonds that stick to the meat. + +I perceived in this device the means of my deliverance. + +Having collected together the largest diamonds I could find, and put +them into the leather bag in which I used to carry my provisions, I +took the largest of the pieces of meat, tied it close round me with +the cloth of my turban, and then laid myself upon the ground, with my +face downward, the bag of diamonds being made fast to my girdle. + +I had scarcely placed myself in this posture when one of the eagles, +having taken me up with the piece of meat to which I was fastened, +carried me to his nest on the top of the mountain. The merchants +immediately began their shouting to frighten the eagles; and when they +had obliged them to quit their prey, one of them came to the nest +where I was. He was much alarmed when he saw me; but recovering +himself, instead of inquiring how I came thither, began to quarrel +with me, and asked why I stole his goods. + +"You will treat me," replied I, "with more civility when you know me +better. Do not be uneasy; I have diamonds enough for you and myself, +more than all the other merchants together. Whatever they have they +owe to chance; but I selected for myself, in the bottom of the valley, +those which you see in this bag." + +I had scarcely done speaking, when the other merchants came crowding +about us, much astonished to see me; but they were much more surprised +when I told them my story. + +They conducted me to their encampment; and there, having opened my +bag, they were surprised at the largeness of my diamonds, and +confessed that they had never seen any of such size and perfection. I +prayed the merchant who owned the nest to which I had been carried +(for every merchant had his own) to take as many for his share as he +pleased. He contented himself with one, and that, too, the least of +them; and when I pressed him to take more, without fear of doing me +any injury, "No," said he, "I am very well satisfied with this, which +is valuable enough to save me the trouble of making any more voyages, +and will raise as great a fortune as I desire." + +I spent the night with the merchants, to whom I related my story a +second time, for the satisfaction of those who had not heard it. I +could not moderate my joy when I found myself delivered from the +danger I have mentioned. I thought myself in a dream, and could +scarcely believe myself out of danger. + +The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley for +several days; and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds that +had fallen to his lot, we left the place the next morning, and +traveled near high mountains, where there were serpents of a +prodigious length, which we had the good fortune to escape. We took +shipping at the first port we reached, and touched at the isle of +Roha, where the trees grow that yield camphor. This tree is so large, +and its branches so thick, that one hundred men may easily sit under +its shade. The juice, of which the camphor is made, exudes from a hole +bored in the upper part of the tree, and is received in a vessel, +where it thickens to a consistency, and becomes what we call camphor. +After the juice is thus drawn out, the tree withers and dies. + +In this island is also found the rhinoceros, an animal less than the +elephant but larger than the buffalo. It has a horn upon its nose, +about a cubit in length; this horn is solid, and cleft through the +middle. The rhinoceros fights with the elephant, runs his horn into +his belly,[53] and carries him off upon his head; but the blood and +the fat of the elephant running into his eyes and making him blind, he +falls to the ground; and then, strange to relate, the roc comes and +carries them both away in her claws, for food for her young ones. + +I pass over many other things peculiar to this island, lest I should +weary you. Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for merchandise. From +hence we went to other islands, and at last, having touched at several +trading towns of the continent, we landed at Bussorah, from whence I +proceeded to Bagdad. There I immediately gave large presents to the +poor, and lived honorably upon the vast riches I had brought, and +gained with so much fatigue. + +[Footnote 53: Captain Marryat, in his _Bushboys_, gives an account of +this contest, in which the rhinoceros came off victorious. He also +gives, in the same amusing volume, an account of a bird taking up a +serpent into the air. The scene of the adventures of the _Bushboys_ is +South Africa.] + +Thus Sindbad ended the relation of the second voyage, gave Hindbad +another hundred sequins, and invited him to come the next day to hear +the account of the third. + + +THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +I soon again grew weary of living a life of idleness, and hardening +myself against the thought of any danger, I embarked with some +merchants on another long voyage. We touched at several ports, where +we traded. One day we were overtaken by a dreadful tempest, which +drove us from our course. The storm continued several days, and +brought us before the port of an island, which the captain was very +unwilling to enter; but we were obliged to cast anchor. When we had +furled our sails the captain told us that this and some other +neighboring islands were inhabited by hairy savages, who would +speedily attack us; and though they were but dwarfs we must make no +resistance, for they were more in number than the locusts; and if we +happened to kill one, they would all fall upon us and destroy us. + +We soon found that what the captain had told us was but too true. An +innumerable multitude of frightful savages, about two feet high, +covered all over with red hair, came swimming toward us, and +encompassed our ship. They chattered as they came near, but we +understood not their language. They climbed up the sides of the ship +with such agility as surprised us. They took down our sails, cut the +cable, and hauling to the shore, made us all get out, and afterward +carried the ship into another island, from whence they had come. + +As we advanced, we perceived at a distance a vast pile of building, +and made toward it. We found it to be a palace, elegantly built, and +very lofty, with a gate of ebony of two leaves, which we opened. We +saw before us a large apartment, with a porch, having on one side a +heap of human bones, and on the other a vast number of roasting spits. +We trembled at this spectacle, and were seized with deadly +apprehension, when suddenly the gate of the apartment opened with a +loud crash, and there came out the horrible figure of a black man, as +tall as a lofty palm tree. He had but one eye, and that in the middle +of his forehead, where it blazed bright as a burning coal. His +foreteeth were very long and sharp, and stood out of his mouth, which +was as deep as that of a horse. His upper lip hung down upon his +breast. His ears resembled those of an elephant, and covered his +shoulders; and his nails were as long and crooked as the talons of the +greatest birds. At the sight of so frightful a genie we became +insensible, and lay like dead men. + +At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch looking +at us. When he had considered us well, he advanced toward us, and +laying his hand upon me, took me up by the nape of my neck, and turned +me around, as a butcher would do a sheep's head. After having examined +me, and perceiving me to be so lean that I was nothing but skin and +bone, he let me go. He took up all the rest one by one, and viewed +them in the same manner. The captain being the fattest, he held him +with one hand, as I would do a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; +he then kindled a great fire, roasted, and ate him in his apartment +for his supper. Having finished his repast, he returned to his porch, +where he lay and fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder. He slept +thus till morning. As for ourselves, it was not possible for us to +enjoy any rest, so that we passed the night in the most painful +apprehension that can be imagined. When day appeared the giant awoke, +got up, went out, and left us in the palace. + +The next night we determined to revenge ourselves on the brutish +giant, and did so in the following manner. After he had again finished +his inhuman supper on another of our seamen, he lay down on his back, +and fell asleep. As soon as we heard him snore according to his +custom, nine of the boldest among us, and myself, took each of us a +spit, and putting the points of them into the fire till they were +burning hot, we thrust them into his eye all at once, and blinded[54] +him. The pain made him break out into a frightful yell: he started up, +and stretched out his hands in order to sacrifice some of us to his +rage, but we ran to such places as he could not reach; and after +having sought for us in vain, he groped for the gate, and went out, +howling in agony. + +[Footnote 54: The youthful student will find in these references +passages which will remind in some degree of the incidents mentioned +in these tales: Homer's _Odyssey_, book iv, lines 350-410; _Iliad_, +book xx, line 220; book xiii, lines 20-35; Virgil, _Aeneid_, iii, +lines 356-542.] + +We immediately left the palace, and came to the shore, where with some +timber that lay about in great quantities, we made some rafts, each +large enough to carry three men. We waited until day to get upon them, +for we hoped if the giant did not appear by sunrise, and give over his +howling, which we still heard, that he would prove to be dead; and if +that happened to be the case, we resolved to stay on that island, and +not to risk our lives upon the rafts. But day had scarcely appeared +when we perceived our cruel enemy, with two others, almost of the +same size, leading him; and a great number more coming before him at a +quick pace. + +We did not hesitate to take to our rafts, but put to sea with all the +speed we could. The giants, who perceived this, took up great stones, +and running to the shore they entered the water up to the middle, and +threw so exactly that they sank all the rafts but that I was upon; and +all my companions, except the two with me, were drowned. We rowed with +all our might, and got out of the reach of the giants. But when we got +out to sea we were exposed to the mercy of the waves and winds, and +spent that day and the following night under the most painful +uncertainty as to our fate; but next morning we had the good fortune +to be thrown upon an island, where we landed with much joy. We found +excellent fruit, which afforded us great relief, and recruited our +strength. + +At night we went to sleep on the seashore; but were awakened by the +noise of a serpent of surprising length and thickness, whose scales +made a rustling noise as he wound himself along. It swallowed up one +of my comrades, notwithstanding his loud cries and the efforts he made +to extricate himself from it. Dashing him several times against the +ground, it crushed him, and we could hear it gnaw and tear the poor +fellow's bones, though we had fled to a considerable distance. The +following day, to our great terror, we saw the serpent again, when I +exclaimed, "O Heaven, to what dangers are we exposed! We rejoiced +yesterday at having escaped from the cruelty of a giant and the rage +of the waves; now are we fallen into another danger equally dreadful." + +As we walked about, we saw a large tall tree, upon which we designed +to pass the following night for our security; and having satisfied our +hunger with fruit, we mounted it accordingly. Shortly after, the +serpent came hissing to the foot of the tree, raised itself up against +the trunk of it, and meeting with my comrade, who sat lower than I, +swallowed him at once, and went off. + +I remained upon the tree till it was day, and then came down, more +like a dead man than one alive, expecting the same fate as had +befallen my two companions. This filled me with horror, and I advanced +some steps to throw myself into the sea; but I withstood this dictate +of despair, and submitted myself to the will of God, who disposes of +our lives at His pleasure. + +In the meantime I collected together a great quantity of small wood, +brambles, and dry thorns, and making them up into fagots, made a wide +circle with them round the tree, and also tied some of them to the +branches over my head. Having done this, when the evening came I shut +myself up within this circle, with the melancholy satisfaction that I +had neglected nothing which could preserve me from the cruel destiny +with which I was threatened. The serpent failed not to come at the +usual hour, and went round the tree, seeking for an opportunity to +devour me, but was prevented by the rampart I had made; so that he lay +till day, like a cat watching in vain for a mouse that has fortunately +reached a place of safety. When day appeared, he retired, but I dared +not leave my fort until the sun arose. + +God took compassion on my hopeless state; for just as I was going, in +a fit of desperation, to throw myself into the sea, I perceived a ship +in the distance. I called as loud as I could, and unfolding the linen +of my turban, displayed it, that they might observe me. This had the +desired effect. The crew perceived me, and the captain sent his boat +for me. As soon as I came on board, the merchants and seamen flocked +about me, to know how I came into that desert island; and after I had +related to them all that had befallen me, the oldest among them said +they had several times heard of the giants that dwelt on that island, +and that they were cannibals; and as to the serpents, they added that +there were abundant in the island; that they hid themselves by day, +and came abroad by night. After having testified their joy at my +escaping so many dangers, they brought me the best of their +provisions; and took me before the captain, who, seeing that I was in +rags, gave me one of his own suits. Looking steadfastly upon him, I +knew him to be the person who, on my second voyage, had left me in the +island where I fell asleep, and had sailed without me, or without +sending to seek for me. + +I was not surprised that he, believing me to be dead, did not +recognize me. + +"Captain," said I, "look at me, and you may know that I am Sindbad, +whom you left in that desert island." + +The captain, having considered me attentively, recognized me. + +"God be praised!" said he, embracing me; "I rejoice that fortune has +rectified my fault. There are your goods, which I always took care to +preserve." + +I took them from him, and made him my acknowledgments for his care of +them. + +We continued at sea for some time, touched at several islands, and at +last landed at that of Salabat,[55] where sandalwood is obtained, +which is much used in medicine. + +[Footnote 55: Sandalwood. The wood of a low tree, the Santalum Album, +resembling the privet, and growing on the coast of Malabar, in the +Indian Archipelago, etc. The hard yellow wood in the center of the old +sandal tree is highly esteemed for its fragrant perfume and is much +used for cabinetwork, etc.] + +From the isle of Salabat we went to another, where I furnished myself +with cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. As we sailed from this island +we saw a tortoise twenty cubits in length and breadth. We observed +also an amphibious animal like a cow, which gave milk;[56] its skin is +so hard, that they usually make bucklers of it. I saw another, which +had the shape and color of a camel.[57] + +[Footnote 56: The hippopotamus.] + +[Footnote 57: The giraffe.] + +In short, after a long voyage I arrived at Bussorah, and from thence +returned to Bagdad with so much wealth that I knew not its extent. I +gave a great deal to the poor, and bought another considerable estate. + + * * * * * + +Thus Sindbad finished the history of his third voyage. He gave another +hundred sequins to Hindbad, and invited him to dinner again the next +day, to hear + + +THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +After I had rested from the dangers of my third voyage, my passion for +trade and my love of novelty soon again prevailed. I therefore settled +my affairs, and provided a stock of goods fit for the traffic I +designed to engage in. I took the route to Persia, traveled over +several provinces, and then arrived at a port, where I embarked. On +putting out to sea, we were overtaken by such a sudden gust of wind as +obliged the captain to lower his yards, and take all other necessary +precautions to prevent the danger that threatened us. But all was in +vain; our endeavors had no effect. The sails were split in a thousand +pieces, and the ship was stranded, several of the merchants and seamen +were drowned, and the cargo was lost. + +I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and mariners, to +get upon some planks, and we were carried by the current to an island +which lay before us. There we found fruit and spring water, which +preserved our lives. We stayed all night near the place where we had +been cast ashore. + +Next morning, as soon as the sun was up, we explored the island, and +saw some houses, which we approached. As soon as we drew near we were +encompassed by a great number of negroes, who seized us, shared us +among them, and carried us to their respective habitations. + +I and five of my comrades were carried to one place; here they made us +sit down, and gave us a certain herb, which they made signs to us to +eat. My comrades, not taking notice that the blacks ate none of it +themselves, thought only of satisfying their hunger, and ate with +greediness. But I, suspecting some trick, would not so much as taste +it, which happened well for me; for in a little time after I perceived +my companions had lost their senses, and that when they spoke to me +they knew not what they said. + +The negroes fed us afterward with rice, prepared with oil of coconuts; +and my comrades, who had lost their reason, ate of it greedily. I also +partook of it, but very sparingly. They gave us that herb at first on +purpose to deprive us of our senses, that we might not be aware of the +sad destiny prepared for us; and they supplied us with rice to fatten +us; for, being cannibals, their design was to eat us as soon as we +grew fat. This accordingly happened, for they devoured my comrades, +who were not sensible of their condition; but my senses being entire, +you may easily guess that instead of growing fat, as the rest did, I +grew leaner every day. The fear of death turned all my food into +poison. I fell into a languishing distemper, which proved my safety; +for the negroes, having killed and eaten my companions, seeing me to +be withered, lean, and sick, deferred my death. + +Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was taken of +what I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to get at a +distance from the houses, and to make my escape. An old man who saw +me, and suspected my design, called to me as loud as he could to +return; but instead of obeying him, I redoubled my speed, and quickly +got out of sight. At that time there was none but the old man about +the houses, the rest being abroad, and not to return till night, which +was usual with them. Therefore, being sure that they could not arrive +in time to pursue me, I went on till night, when I stopped to rest a +little, and to eat some of the provisions I had secured; but I +speedily set forward again, and traveled seven days, avoiding those +places which seemed to be inhabited, and lived for the most part upon +coconuts, which served me both for meat and drink. On the eighth day I +came near the sea, and saw some white people, like myself, gathering +pepper, of which there was great plenty in that place. This I took to +be a good omen, and went to them without any scruple. + +The people who gathered pepper came to meet me as soon as they saw me, +and asked me in Arabic who I was and whence I came. I was overjoyed +to hear them speak in my own language, and I satisfied their curiosity +by giving them an account of my shipwreck, and how I fell into the +hands of the negroes. + +"Those negroes," replied they, "eat men; and by what miracle did you +escape their cruelty?" I related to them the circumstances I have just +mentioned, at which they were wonderfully surprised. + +I stayed with them till they had gathered their quantity of pepper, +and then sailed with them to the island from whence they had come. +They presented me to their king, who was a good prince. He had the +patience to hear the relation of my adventures, which surprised him; +and he afterward gave me clothes, and commanded care to be taken of +me. + +The island was very well peopled, plentiful in everything, and the +capital a place of great trade. This agreeable retreat was very +comfortable to me after my misfortunes, and the kindness of this +generous prince completed my satisfaction. In a word, there was not a +person more in favor with him than myself, and consequently every man +in court and city sought to oblige me; so that in a very little time I +was looked upon rather as a native than a stranger. + +I observed one thing, which to me appeared very extraordinary. All the +people, the king himself not excepted, rode their horses without +bridle or stirrups. I went one day to a workman, and gave him a model +for making the stock of a saddle. When that was done, I covered it +myself with velvet and leather, and embroidered it with gold. I +afterward went to a smith, who made me a bit, according to the pattern +I showed him, and also some stirrups. When I had all things +completed, I presented them to the king, and put them upon one of his +horses. His majesty mounted immediately, and was so pleased with them +that he testified his satisfaction by large presents. I made several +others for the ministers and principal officers of his household, +which gained me great reputation and regard. + +As I paid my court very constantly to the king, he said to me one day, +"Sindbad, I love thee. I have one thing to demand of thee, which thou +must grant. I have a mind thou shouldst marry, that so thou mayst stay +in my dominions, and think no more of thy own country." + +I durst not resist the prince's will, and he gave me one of the ladies +of his court, noble, beautiful, and rich. The ceremonies of marriage +being over, I went and dwelt with my wife, and for some time we lived +together in perfect harmony. I was not, however, satisfied with my +banishment. Therefore I designed to make my escape at the first +opportunity, and to return to Bagdad, which my present settlement, how +advantageous soever, could not make me forget. + +At this time the wife of one of my neighbors, with whom I had +contracted a very strict friendship, fell sick and died. I went to see +and comfort him in his affliction, and finding him absorbed in sorrow, +I said to him, as soon as I saw him, "God preserve you, and grant you +a long life." + +"Alas!" replied he, "how do you think I should obtain the favor you +wish me? I have not above an hour to live, for I must be buried this +day with my wife. This is a law on this island. The living husband is +interred with the dead wife, and the living wife with the dead +husband." + +While he was giving me an account of this barbarous custom, the very +relation of which chilled my blood, his kindred, friends, and +neighbors came to assist at the funeral. They dressed the corpse of +the woman in her richest apparel and all her jewels, as if it had been +her wedding day; then they placed her on an open bier, and began their +march to the place of burial. The husband walked first, next to the +dead body. They proceeded to a high mountain, and when they had +reached the place of their destination they took up a large stone +which formed the mouth of a deep pit, and let down the body with all +its apparel and jewels. Then the husband, embracing his kindred and +friends, without resistance suffered himself to be placed on another +bier, with a pot of water and seven small loaves, and was let down in +the same manner. The ceremony being over, the mouth of the pit was +again covered with the stone, and the company returned. + +I mention this ceremony the more particularly because I was in a few +weeks' time to be the principal actor on a similar occasion. Alas! my +own wife fell sick and died. I made every remonstrance I could to the +king not to expose me, a foreigner, to this inhuman law. I appealed in +vain. The king and all his court, with the most considerable persons +of the city, sought to soften my sorrow by honoring the funeral +ceremony with their presence; and at the termination of the ceremony I +was lowered into the pit with a vessel full of water, and seven +loaves. As I approached the bottom I discovered, by the aid of the +little light that came from above, the nature of this subterranean +place; it seemed an endless cavern, and might be about fifty fathoms +deep. + +I lived for some time upon my bread and water, when, one day, just as +I was on the point of exhaustion, I heard something tread, and +breathing or panting as it moved. I followed the sound. The animal +seemed to stop sometimes, but always fled and breathed hard as I +approached. I pursued it for a considerable time, till at last I +perceived a light, resembling a star; I went on, sometimes lost sight +of it, but always found it again, and at last discovered that it came +through a hole[58] in the rock, which I got through, and found myself +upon the seashore, at which I felt exceeding joy. I prostrated myself +on the shore to thank God for this mercy, and shortly afterward I +perceived a ship making for the place where I was. I made a sign with +the linen of my turban, and called to the crew as loud as I could. +They heard me, and sent a boat to bring me on board. It was fortunate +for me that these people did not inspect the place where they found +me, but without hesitation took me on board. + +[Footnote 58: "Aristomenes, the Messenian general, thus escaped from a +cave. He perceived a fox near him gnawing a dead body; with one hand +he caught it by the hind leg, and with the other held its jaws, when +it attempted to bite him. Following, as well as he could, his +struggling guide to the narrow crevice at which he entered, he there +let him go, and soon forced a passage through it to the welcome face +of day."--Hole, 141. Sancho's escape from the pit into which he +tumbled with Daffle is somewhat similar.] + +We passed by several islands, and among others that called the Isle of +Bells, about ten days' sail from Serendib with a regular wind, and six +from that of Kela, where we landed. Lead mines are found in the +island; also Indian canes, and excellent camphor. + +The King of the Isle of Kela is very rich and powerful, and the Isle +of Bells, which is about two days' journey away, is also subject to +him. The inhabitants are so barbarous that they still eat human flesh. +After we had finished our traffic in that island we put to sea again, +and touched at several other ports; at last I arrived happily at +Bagdad. Out of gratitude to God for His mercies, I contributed +liberally toward the support of several mosques and the subsistence of +the poor, and enjoyed myself with my friends in festivities and +amusements. + + * * * * * + +Here Sindbad made a new present of one hundred sequins to Hindbad, +whom he requested to return with the rest next day at the same hour, +to dine with him and hear the story of his fifth voyage. + + +THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +All the troubles and calamities I had undergone could not cure me of +my inclination to make new voyages. I therefore bought goods, departed +with them for the best seaport, and there, that I might not be obliged +to depend upon a captain, but have a ship at my own command, I +remained till one was built on purpose, at my own charge. When the +ship was ready I went on board with my goods; but not having enough to +load her, I agreed to take with me several merchants of different +nations, with their merchandise. + +We sailed with the first fair wind, and after a long navigation the +first place we touched at was a desert island, where we found the egg +of a roc, equal in size to that I formerly mentioned. There was a +young roc in it, just ready to be hatched, and its beak had begun to +break the egg. + +The merchants who landed with me broke the egg with hatchets, and +making a hole in it, pulled out the young roc piecemeal, and roasted +it. I had in vain entreated them not to meddle with the egg. + +Scarcely had they finished their repast, when there appeared in the +air, at a considerable distance, two great clouds.[59] The captain of +my ship, knowing by experience what they meant, said they were the +male and female parents of the roc, and pressed us to reëmbark with +all speed, to prevent the misfortune which he saw would otherwise +befall us. + +[Footnote 59: Mr. Marsden, in his notes to his translation of Marco +Polo's _Voyages_, supposes the roc to be a description of the +albatross or condor, under greatly exaggerated terms.] + +The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they redoubled +when they saw the egg broken, and their young one gone. They flew back +in the direction they had come, and disappeared for some time, while +we made all the sail we could in the endeavor to prevent that which +unhappily befell us. + +They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried between +its talons an enormous rock. When they came directly over my ship, +they hovered, and one of them let go his rock; but by the dexterity of +the steersman it missed us and fell into the sea. The other so exactly +hit the middle of the ship as to split it into pieces. The mariners +and passengers were all crushed to death or fell into the sea. I +myself was of the number of the latter; but, as I came up again, I +fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, and swimming, +sometimes with one hand and sometimes with the other, but always +holding fast the plank, the wind and the tide favoring me, I came to +an island, and got safely ashore. + +I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, after +which I went into the island to explore it. It seemed to be a +delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them bearing green +and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh pure water. I ate of the +fruits, which I found excellent; and drank of the water, which was +very light and good. + +When I was a little advanced into the island, I saw an old man, who +appeared very weak and infirm. He was sitting on the bank of a stream, +and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked like +myself. I went toward him and saluted him, but he only slightly bowed +his head. I asked him why he sat so still; but instead of answering +me, he made a sign for me to take him upon my back, and carry him over +the brook. + +I believed him really to stand in need of my assistance, took him upon +my back, and having carried him over, bade him get down, and for that +end stooped, that he might get off with ease; but instead of doing so +(which I laugh at every time I think of it), the old man, who to me +appeared quite decrepit, threw his legs nimbly about my neck. He sat +astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so tight that I thought +he would have strangled me, and I fainted away. + +Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow still kept his +seat upon my neck. When I had recovered my breath, he thrust one of +his feet against my side, and struck me so rudely with the other that +he forced me to rise up, against my will. Having arisen, he made me +carry him under the trees, and forced me now and then to stop, that he +might gather and eat fruit. He never left his seat all day; and when I +lay down to rest at night he laid himself down with me, still holding +fast about my neck. Every morning he pinched me to make me awake, and +afterward obliged me to get up and walk, and spurred me with his feet. + +One day I found several dry calabashes that had fallen from a tree. I +took a large one, and after cleaning it, pressed into it some juice of +grapes, which abounded in the island. Having filled the calabash, I +put it by in a convenient place, and going thither again some days +after, I tasted it, and found the wine so good that it gave me new +vigor, and so exhilarated my spirits that I began to sing and dance as +I carried my burden. + +The old man, perceiving the effect which this had upon me, and that I +carried him with more ease than before, made me a sign to give him +some of it. I handed him the calabash, and the liquor pleasing his +palate, he drank it off. There being a considerable quantity of it, he +soon began to sing, and to move about from side to side in his seat +upon my shoulders, and by degrees to loosen his legs from about me. +Finding that he did not press me as before, I threw him upon the +ground, where he lay without motion. I then took up a great stone and +slew him. + +I was extremely glad to be thus freed forever from this troublesome +fellow. I now walked toward the beach, where I met the crew of a ship +that had cast anchor, to take in water. They were surprised to see me, +but more so at hearing the particulars of my adventures. + +"You fell," said they, "into the hands of the old man of the sea, and +are the first who ever escaped strangling by his malicious embraces. +He never quitted those he had once made himself master of, till he had +destroyed them, and he has made this island notorious by the number of +men he has slain." + +They carried me with them to the captain, who received me with great +kindness. He put out again to sea, and after some days' sail we +arrived at the harbor of a great city, the houses of which overhung +the sea. + +One of the merchants, who had taken me into his friendship, invited me +to go along with him. He gave me a large sack, and having recommended +me to some people of the town, who used to gather coconuts, desired +them to take me with them. + +"Go," said he, "follow them, and act as you see them do; but do not +separate from them, otherwise you may endanger your life." + +Having thus spoken, he gave me provisions for the journey, and I went +with them. + +We came to a thick forest of coco palms,[60] very lofty, with trunks +so smooth that it was not possible to climb to the branches that bore +the fruit. When we entered the forest we saw a great number of apes of +several sizes, who fled as soon as they perceived us, and climbed to +the tops of the trees with amazing swiftness. + +[Footnote 60: Coco palms bear their fruit at the top.] + +The merchants with whom I was gathered stones, and threw them at the +apes on the trees. I did the same; and the apes, out of revenge, threw +coconuts at us so fast, and with such gestures, as sufficiently +testified their anger and resentment. We gathered up the coconuts, and +from time to time threw stones to provoke the apes; so that by this +stratagem we filled our bags with coconuts. I thus gradually collected +as many coconuts as produced me a considerable sum. + +Having laden our vessel with coconuts, we set sail, and passed by the +islands where pepper grows in great plenty. From thence we went to the +Isle of Comari, where the best species of wood of aloes grows. I +exchanged my coconuts in those two islands for pepper and wood of +aloes, and went with other merchants pearl fishing.[61] I hired +divers, who brought me up some that were very large and pure. I +embarked in a vessel that happily arrived at Bussorah; from thence I +returned to Bagdad, where I realized vast sums from my pepper, wood of +aloes, and pearls. I gave the tenth of my gains in alms, as I had done +upon my return from my other voyages, and rested from my fatigues. + +[Footnote 61: Marco Polo, a famous voyager (1298), gives an account of +this pearl fishery.] + + * * * * * + +Sindbad here ordered one hundred sequins to be given to Hindbad, and +requested him and the other guests to dine with him the next day, to +hear the account of his sixth voyage. + + +THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +I know, my friends, that you will wish to hear how, after having been +shipwrecked five times, and escaped so many dangers, I could resolve +again to tempt fortune, and expose myself to new hardships. I am +myself astonished at my conduct when I reflect upon it, and must +certainly have been actuated by my destiny, from which none can +escape. Be that as it may, after a year's rest I prepared for a sixth +voyage, notwithstanding the entreaties of my kindred and friends, who +did all in their power to dissuade me. + +Instead of taking my way by the Persian Gulf I traveled once more +through several provinces of Persia and the Indies, and arrived at a +seaport. Here I embarked in a ship, the captain of which was bound on +a long voyage, in which he and the pilot lost their course. Suddenly +we saw the captain quit his rudder, uttering loud lamentations. He +threw off his turban, pulled his beard, and beat his head like a +madman. We asked him the reason; and he answered that we were in the +most dangerous place in all the ocean. + +"A rapid current carries the ship along with it, and we shall all +perish in less than a quarter of an hour. Pray to God to deliver us +from this peril. We cannot escape, if He do not take pity on us." + +At these words he ordered the sails to be lowered; but all the ropes +broke, and the ship was carried by the current to the foot of an +inaccessible mountain, where she struck and went to pieces; yet in +such a manner that we saved our lives, our provisions, and the best of +our goods. + +The mountain at the foot of which we were was covered with wrecks, +with a vast number of human bones, and with an incredible quantity of +goods and riches of all kinds, These objects served only to augment +our despair. In all other places it is usual for rivers to run from +their channels into the sea; but here a river of fresh water[62] runs +from the sea into a dark cavern, whose entrance is very high and +spacious. What is most remarkable in this place is that the stones of +the mountain are of crystal, rubies, or other precious stones. Here is +also a sort of fountain of pitch or bitumen,[63] that runs into the +sea, which the fish swallow, and evacuate soon afterward, turned into +ambergris[64]; and this the waves throw up on the beach in great +quantities. Trees also grow here, most of which are of wood of +aloes,[65] equal in goodness to those of Comari. + +[Footnote 62: Mr. Ives mentions wells of fresh water under the sea in +the Persian Gulf, near the island of Barien.--Hole.] + +[Footnote 63: "Such fountains are not unfrequent in India and in +Ceylon; and the Mohammedan travelers speak of ambergris swallowed by +whales, who are made sick and regorge it."--Hole.] + +[Footnote 64: "Ambergris--a substance of animal origin, found +principally in warm climates floating on the sea, or thrown on the +coast. The best comes from Madagascar, Surinam, and Java. When it is +heated or rubbed, it exhales an agreeable odor."--Knight's _English +Cyclopædia_, Vol. I, p. 142.] + +[Footnote 65: "Camphor is the produce of certain trees in Borneo, +Sumatra, and Japan. The camphor lies in perpendicular veins near the +center of the tree, or in its knots, and the same tree exudes a fluid +termed oil of camphor. The Venetians, and subsequently the Dutch, +monopolized the sale of camphor."--_Encyclopædia Metropolitana_, Vol. +III, p. 195. Gibbons, in his notes to the _Decline and Fall_, says: +"From the remote islands of the Indian Ocean a large provision of +camphor had been imported, which is employed, with a mixture of wax, +to illuminate the palaces of the East."] + +To finish the description of this place, it is not possible for ships +to get off when once they approach within a certain distance. If they +be driven thither by a wind from the sea, the wind and the current +impel them; and if they come into it when a land wind blows, which +might seem to favor their getting out again, the height of the +mountain stops the wind, and occasions a calm, so that the force of +the current carries them ashore; and what completes the misfortune is, +that there is no possibility of ascending the mountain, or of escaping +by sea. + +We continued upon the shore, at the foot of the mountain, in a state +of despair, and expected death every day. On our first landing we had +divided our provisions as equally as we could, and thus every one +lived a longer or a shorter time, according to his temperance, and +the use he made of his provisions. + +[Illustration: _Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well +to the raft, I went on board with two oars I had made Page 281_] + +I survived all my companions; and when I buried the last I had so +little provisions remaining that I thought I could not long survive, +and I dug a grave, resolving to lie down in it because there was no +one left to pay me the last offices of respect. But it pleased God +once more to take compassion on me, and put it in my mind to go to the +bank of the river which ran into the great cavern. Considering its +probable course with great attention, I said to myself, "This river, +which runs thus underground, must somewhere have an issue. If I make a +raft, and leave myself to the current, it will convey me to some +inhabited country, or I shall perish. If I be drowned, I lose nothing, +but only change one kind of death for another." + +I immediately went to work upon large pieces of timber and cables, for +I had a choice of them from the wrecks, and tied them together so +strongly that I soon made a very solid raft. When I had finished, I +loaded it with some chests of rubies, emeralds, ambergris, +rock-crystal, and bales of rich stuffs. Having balanced my cargo +exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board with two +oars that I had made, and leaving it to the course of the river, +resigned myself to the will of God. + +As soon as I entered the cavern I lost all light, and the stream +carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated on in perfect darkness, +and once found the arch so low, that it very nearly touched my head, +which made me cautious afterward to avoid the like danger. All this +while I ate nothing but what was just necessary to support nature; +yet, notwithstanding my frugality, all my provisions were spent. Then +I became insensible. I cannot tell how long I continued so; but when I +revived, I was surprised to find myself on an extensive plain on the +brink of a river, where my raft was tied, amidst a great number of +negroes. + +I got up as soon as I saw them, and saluted them. They spoke to me, +but I did not understand their language. I was so transported with joy +that I knew not whether I was asleep or awake; but being persuaded +that I was not asleep, I recited the following words in Arabic aloud: +"Call upon the Almighty, He will help thee; thou needest not perplex +thyself about anything else: shut thy eyes, and while thou art asleep, +God will change thy bad fortune into good." + +One of the negroes, who understood Arabic, hearing me speak thus, came +toward me, and said, "Brother, be not surprised to see us; we are +inhabitants of this country, and water our fields from this river, +which comes out of the neighboring mountain. We saw your raft, and one +of us swam into the river, and brought it hither, where we fastened +it, as you see, until you should awake. Pray tell us your history. +Whence did you come?" + +I begged of them first to give me something to eat, and then I would +satisfy their curiosity. They gave me several sorts of food, and when +I had satisfied my hunger I related all that had befallen me, which +they listened to with attentive surprise. As soon as I had finished, +they told me, by the person who spoke Arabic and interpreted to them +what I said, that I must go along with them, and tell my story to +their king myself, it being too extraordinary to be related by any +other than the person to whom the events had happened. + +They immediately sent for a horse, and having helped me to mount, some +of them walked before to show the way, while the rest took my raft and +cargo and followed. + +We marched till we came to the capital of Serendib, for it was on that +island I had landed. The negroes presented me to their king; I +approached his throne, and saluted him as I used to do the kings of +the Indies; that is to say, I prostrated myself at his feet. The +prince ordered me to rise, received me with an obliging air, and made +me sit down near him. + +I concealed nothing from the king, but related to him all that I have +told you. At last my raft was brought in, and the bales opened in his +presence: he admired the quantity of wood of aloes and ambergris; but, +above all, the rubies and emeralds, for he had none in his treasury +that equaled them. + +Observing that he looked on my jewels with pleasure, and viewed the +most remarkable among them, one after another, I fell prostrate at his +feet, and took the liberty to say to him, "Sire, not only my person is +at your majesty's service, but the cargo of the raft, and I would beg +of you to dispose of it as your own." + +He answered me with a smile, "Sindbad, I will take nothing of yours; +far from lessening your wealth, I design to augment it, and will not +let you quit my dominions without marks of my liberality." + +He then charged one of his officers to take care of me, and ordered +people to serve me at his own expense. The officer was very faithful +in the execution of his commission, and caused all the goods to be +carried to the lodgings provided for me. + +I went every day at a set hour to make my court to the king, and spent +the rest of my time in viewing the city, and what was most worthy of +notice. + +The capital of Serendib stands at the end of a fine valley, in the +middle of the island, encompassed by high mountains. They are seen +three days' sail off at sea. Rubies and several sorts of minerals +abound. All kinds of rare plants and trees grow there, especially +cedars and coconut. There is also a pearl fishery in the mouth of its +principal river, and in some of its valleys are found diamonds. I +made, by way of devotion, a pilgrimage to the place where Adam was +confined after his banishment from Paradise, and had the curiosity to +go to the top of the mountain. + +When I returned to the city I prayed the king to allow me to return to +my own country, and he granted me permission in the most obliging and +honorable manner. He would force a rich present upon me; and at the +same time he charged me with a letter for the Commander of the +Faithful, our sovereign, saying to me, "I pray you give this present +from me, and this letter, to the Caliph Haroun al Raschid, and assure +him of my friendship." + +The letter from the King of Serendib was written on the skin of a +certain animal of great value, very scarce, and of a yellowish color. +The characters of this letter were of azure, and the contents as +follows: + + "The King of the Indies, before whom march one hundred + elephants, who lives in a palace that shines with one + hundred thousand rubies, and who has in his treasury twenty + thousand crowns enriched with diamonds, to Caliph Haroun al + Raschid. + + "Though the present we send you be inconsiderable, receive + it, however, as a brother and a friend, in consideration of + the hearty friendship which we bear for you, and of which we + are willing to give you proof. We desire the same part in + your friendship, considering that we believe it to be our + merit, as we are both kings. We send you this letter as from + one brother to another. Farewell." + + * * * * * + +The present consisted (1) of one single ruby made into a cup, about +half a foot high, an inch thick, and filled with round pearls of half +a dram each. (2) The skin of a serpent, whose scales were as bright as +an ordinary piece of gold, and had the virtue to preserve from +sickness those who lay upon it.[66] (3) Fifty thousand drams of the +best wood of aloes, with thirty grains of camphor as big as +pistachios. And (4) a female slave of great beauty, whose robe was +covered with jewels. + +[Footnote 66: "There is a snake in Bengal whose skin is esteemed a +cure for external pains by applying it to the part affected."--Hole.] + +The ship set sail, and after a very successful navigation we landed at +Bussorah, and from thence I went to the city of Bagdad, where the +first thing I did was to acquit myself of my commission. + +I took the King of Serendib's letter, and went to present myself at +the gate of the Commander of the Faithful, and was immediately +conducted to the throne of the caliph. I made my obeisance, and +presented the letter and gift. When he had read what the King of +Serendib wrote to him, he asked me if that prince were really so rich +and potent as he represented himself in his letter. I prostrated +myself a second time, and rising again, said, "Commander of the +Faithful, I can assure your majesty he doth not exceed the truth. I +bear him witness. Nothing is more worthy of admiration than the +magnificence of his palace. When the prince appears in public,[67] he +has a throne fixed on the back of an elephant, and rides betwixt two +ranks of his ministers, favorites, and other people of his court. +Before him, upon the same elephant, an officer carries a golden +lance[68] in his hand; and behind him there is another, who stands +with a rod of gold, on the top of which is an emerald, half a foot +long and an inch thick. He is attended by a guard of one thousand men, +clad in cloth of gold and silk, and mounted on elephants richly +caparisoned. The officer who is before him on the same elephant, cries +from time to time, with a loud voice, 'Behold the great monarch, the +potent and redoubtable Sultan of the Indies, the monarch greater than +Solomon, and the powerful Maharaja.' After he has pronounced those +words, the officer behind the throne cries, in his turn, 'This +monarch, so great and so powerful, must die, must die, must die.'[69] +And the officer before replies, 'Praise alone be to Him who liveth +forever and ever.'" + +[Footnote 67: "The king is honorably distinguished by various kinds of +ornaments, such as a collar set with jewels, sapphires, emeralds, and +rubies of immense value."--Marco Polo, p. 384.] + +[Footnote 68: "Throwing the lance was a favorite pastime among the +young Arabians, and prepared them for the chase or war."--Notes to +_Vathek_, p. 295.] + +[Footnote 69: Thus the Roman slave, on the triumph of an imperator, +"Respice post te, hominem te esse memento"; or the page of Philip of +Macedonia, who was made to address him every morning, "Remember, +Philip, thou art mortal."] + +The caliph was much pleased with my account, and sent me home with a +rich present. + + * * * * * + +Here Sindbad commanded another hundred sequins to be paid to Hindbad, +and begged his return on the morrow to hear his seventh and last +voyage. + + +THE SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +On my return home from my sixth voyage I had entirely given up all +thoughts of again going to sea; for, besides that my age now required +rest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to such risks as I had +encountered, so that I thought of nothing but to pass the rest of my +days in tranquillity. One day, however, an officer of the caliph's +inquired for me. + +"The caliph," said he, "has sent me to tell you that he must speak +with you." + +I followed the officer to the palace, where, being presented to the +caliph, I saluted him by prostrating myself at his feet. + +"Sindbad," said he to me, "I stand in need of your service; you must +carry my answer and present to the King of Serendib." + +This command of the caliph was to me like a clap of thunder. +"Commander of the Faithful," I replied, "I am ready to do whatever +your majesty shall think fit to command; but I beseech you most humbly +to consider what I have undergone. I have also made a vow never to +leave Bagdad." + +Perceiving that the caliph insisted upon my compliance, I submitted, +and told him that I was willing to obey. He was very well pleased, and +ordered me one thousand sequins for the expenses of my journey. + +I prepared for my departure in a few days. As soon as the caliph's +letter and present were delivered to me, I went to Bussorah, where I +embarked, and had a very prosperous voyage. Having arrived at the Isle +of Serendib, I was conducted to the palace with much pomp, when I +prostrated myself on the ground before the king. + +"Sindbad," said the king, "you are welcome. I have many times thought +of you; I bless the day on which I see you once more." + +I made my compliments to him, and thanked him for his kindness, and +delivered the gifts from my august master. + +The caliph's letter was as follows: + + "Greeting, in the name of the Sovereign Guide of the Right + Way, from the servant of God, Haroun al Raschid, whom God + hath set in the place of vice-regent to His Prophet, after + his ancestors of happy memory, to the potent and esteemed + Raja of Serendib. + + "We received your letter with joy, and send you this from + our imperial residence, the garden of superior wits. We + hope, when you look upon it, you will perceive our good + intention, and be pleased with it. Farewell." + +The caliph's present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, valued at +one thousand sequins; fifty robes of rich stuff, a hundred of white +cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria; a vessel of agate, +more broad than deep, an inch thick, and half a foot wide, the bottom +of which represented in bas-relief a man with one knee on the ground, +who held a bow and an arrow, ready to discharge at a lion. He sent him +also a rich tablet, which, according to tradition, belonged to the +great Solomon. + +The King of Serendib was highly gratified at the caliph's +acknowledgment of his friendship. A little time after this audience I +solicited leave to depart, and with much difficulty obtained it. The +king, when he dismissed me, made me a very considerable present. I +embarked immediately to return to Bagdad, but had not the good fortune +to arrive there so speedily as I had hoped. God ordered it otherwise. + +Three or four days after my departure we were attacked by pirates, who +easily seized upon our ship because it was not a vessel of war. Some +of the crew offered resistance, which cost them their lives. But for +myself and the rest, who were not so imprudent, the pirates saved us, +and carried us into a remote island, where they sold us. + +I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as he bought +me, took me to his house, treated me well, and clad me handsomely as a +slave. Some days after, he asked me if I understood any trade. I +answered that I was no mechanic, but a merchant, and that the pirates +who sold me had robbed me of all I possessed. + +"Tell me," replied he, "can you shoot with a bow?" + +I answered, that the bow was one of my exercises[70] in my youth. He +gave me a bow and arrows, and taking me behind him on an elephant, +carried me to a thick forest some leagues from the town. We penetrated +a great way into the wood, and when he thought fit to stop, he bade me +alight; then showing me a great tree, "Climb up that," said he, "and +shoot at the elephants as you see them pass by, for there is a +prodigious number of them in this forest, and if any of them fall come +and give me notice." Having spoken thus, he left me victuals, and +returned to the town, and I continued upon the tree all night. + +[Footnote 70: "The use of a bow was a constituent part of an Eastern +education."--Notes to _Vathek_, p. 301. See the account of Cyrus's +education--Xenophon's _Cyclopædia._] + +I saw no elephant during the night, but next morning, at break of day, +I perceived a great number. I shot several arrows among them; and at +last one of the elephants fell, when the rest retired immediately, and +left me at liberty to go and acquaint my patron with my success. When +I had informed him, he commended my dexterity, and caressed me highly. +We went afterward together to the forest, where we dug a hole for the +elephant, my patron designing to return when it was rotten, and take +his teeth to trade with. + +I continued this employment for two months. One morning, as I looked +for the elephants, I perceived with extreme amazement that, instead of +passing by me across the forest as usual, they stopped, and came to me +with a horrible noise, and in such numbers that the plain was covered +and shook under them. They surrounded the tree in which I was +concealed, with their trunks uplifted, and all fixed their eyes upon +me. At this alarming spectacle I continued immovable, and was so much +terrified that my bow and arrows fell out of my hand. + +My fears were not without cause; for after the elephants had stared +upon me some time, one of the largest of them put his trunk round the +foot of the tree, plucked it up, and threw it on the ground. I fell +with the tree, and the elephant, taking me up with his trunk, laid me +on his back, where I sat more like one dead than alive, with my +quiver on my shoulder. He put himself at the head of the rest, who +followed him in line one after the other, carried me a considerable +way, then laid me down on the ground, and retired with all his +companions. After having lain some time, and seeing the elephants +gone, I got up, and found I was upon a long and broad hill, almost +covered with the bones and teeth of elephants. I doubted not but that +this was the burial place of the elephants, and that they carried me +thither on purpose to tell me that I should forbear to kill them, as +now I knew where to get their teeth without inflicting injury on them. +I did not stay on the hill, but turned toward the city; and after +having traveled a day and a night, I came to my patron. + +As soon as my patron saw me, "Ah, poor Sindbad," exclaimed he, "I was +in great trouble to know what was become of you. I have been to the +forest, where I found a tree newly pulled up, and your bow and arrows +on the ground, and I despaired of ever seeing you more. Pray tell me +what befell you." + +I satisfied his curiosity, and we both of us set out next morning to +the hill. We loaded the elephant which had carried us with as many +teeth as he could bear; and when we were returned, my master thus +addressed me: "Hear now what I shall tell you. The elephants of our +forest have every year killed us a great many slaves, whom we sent to +seek ivory. For all the cautions we could give them, these crafty +animals destroyed them one time or other. God has delivered you from +their fury, and has bestowed that favor upon you only. It is a sign +that He loves you, and has some use for your service in the world. You +have procured me incredible wealth; and now our whole city is +enriched by your means, without any more exposing the lives of our +slaves. After such a discovery, I can treat you no more as a slave, +but as a brother. God bless you with all happiness and prosperity. I +henceforth give you your liberty; I will also give you riches." + +To this I replied, "Master, God preserve you. I desire no other reward +for the service I had the good fortune to do to you and your city, but +leave to return to my own country." + +"Very well," said he, "the monsoon[71] will in a little time bring +ships for ivory. I will then send you home." + +[Footnote 71: Periodical winds blowing six months from the same +quarter or point of the compass, then changing, and blowing the same +time from the opposite quarter.] + +I stayed with him while waiting for the monsoon; and during that time +we made so many journeys to the hill that we filled all our warehouses +with ivory. The other merchants who traded in it did the same; for my +master made them partakers of his good fortune. + +The ships arrived at last, and my master himself having made choice of +the ship wherein I was to embark, loaded half of it with ivory on my +account, laid in provisions in abundance for my passage, and besides +obliged me to accept a present of some curiosities of the country of +great value. After I had returned him a thousand thanks for all his +favors, I went aboard. + +We stopped at some islands to take in fresh provisions. Our vessel +being come to a port on the mainland in the Indies, we touched there, +and not being willing to venture by sea to Bussorah, I landed my +portion of the ivory, resolving to proceed on my journey by land. I +realized vast sums by my ivory, bought several rarities, which I +intended for presents, and when my equipage was ready, set out in +company with a large caravan of merchants. I was a long time on the +journey, and suffered much, but was happy in thinking that I had +nothing to fear from the seas, from pirates, from serpents, or from +the other perils to which I had been exposed. + +I at last arrived safe at Bagdad, and immediately waited upon the +caliph, to give him an account of my embassy. He loaded me with honors +and rich presents, and I have ever since devoted myself to my family, +kindred, and friends. + + * * * * * + +Sindbad here finished the relation of his seventh and last voyage, and +then addressing himself to Hindbad, "Well, friend," said he, "did you +ever hear of any person that suffered so much as I have done? Is it +not reasonable that, after all this, I should enjoy a quiet and +pleasant life?" + +As he said these words, Hindbad kissed his hand, and said, "Sir, my +afflictions are not to be compared with yours. You not only deserve a +quiet life but are worthy of all the riches you possess, since you +make so good a use of them. May you live happily for a long time." + +Sindbad ordered him to be paid another hundred sequins, and told him +to give up carrying burdens as a porter, and to eat henceforth at his +table, for he wished that he should all his life have reason to +remember that he henceforth had a friend in Sindbad the sailor. + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Arabian Nights Entertainments, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS *** + +***** This file should be named 19860-8.txt or 19860-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/8/6/19860/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Arabian Nights Entertainments + +Author: Anonymous + +Illustrator: Milo Winter + +Release Date: November 18, 2006 [EBook #19860] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover Page" width="600" height="670" /></div> +<p> </p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_1" id="pic_1"></a> +<img src="images/image_003.jpg" width="500" height="723" alt="The genie immediately returned with a tray bearing dishes of the most delicious viands." title="The genie immediately returned with a tray bearing dishes of the most delicious viands." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">The genie immediately returned with a tray bearing +dishes of the most delicious viands. <a href="#anch_1">Page 168.</a></span></div> +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img class="img1" src="images/image_001.jpg" alt="Title Page" width="500" height="758" /></div> + +<p> </p> +<h3>THE WINDERMERE SERIES</h3> +<p> </p> + +<h1>The Arabian Nights<br /> +Entertainments</h1> +<p> </p> + +<h4>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY</h4> + +<h2>MILO WINTER</h2> +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/image_002.jpg" width="150" height="137" alt="Seal" /> +</div> +<p> </p> +<h3>RAND M<span class="smcap">c</span>NALLY & COMPANY</h3> +<h3>CHICAGO<span style="margin-left:10em">NEW YORK</span></h3> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center f1"><i>Copyright, 1914, by</i></p> + +<p class="center f1"><span class="smcap">Rand McNally & Company</span></p> + + + + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p>The <i>Arabian Nights</i> was introduced to Europe in a French translation +by Antoine Galland in 1704, and rapidly attained a unique popularity. +There are even accounts of the translator being roused from sleep by +bands of young men under his windows in Paris, importuning him to tell +them another story.</p> + +<p>The learned world at first refused to believe that M. Galland had not +invented the tales. But he had really discovered an Arabic manuscript +from sixteenth-century Egypt, and had consulted Oriental +story-tellers. In spite of inaccuracies and loss of color, his twelve +volumes long remained classic in France, and formed the basis of our +popular translations.</p> + +<p>A more accurate version, corrected from the Arabic, with a style +admirably direct, easy, and simple, was published by Dr. Jonathan +Scott in 1811. This is the text of the present edition.</p> + +<p>The Moslems delight in stories, but are generally ashamed to show a +literary interest in fiction. Hence the world's most delightful story +book has come to us with but scant indications of its origin. Critical +scholarship, however, has been able to reach fairly definite +conclusions.</p> + +<p>The reader will be interested to trace out for himself the +similarities in the adventures of the two Persian queens, +Schehera-zade, and Esther of Bible story, which M. de Goeje has +pointed out as indicating their original identity (<i>Encyclopædia +Britannica</i>, "Thousand and One Nights"). There are two or three +references in tenth-century Arabic literature to a Persian collection +of tales, called <i>The Thousand Nights</i>, by the fascination of which +the lady Schehera-zade kept winning one more day's lease of life. A +good many of the tales as we have them contain elements clearly +indicating Persian or Hindu origin. But most of the stories, even +those with scenes laid in Persia or India, are thoroughly Mohammedan +in thought, feeling, situation, and action.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<p>The favorite scene is "the glorious city," ninth-century Bagdad, whose +caliph, Haroun al Raschid, though a great king, and heir of still +mightier men, is known to fame chiefly by the favor of these tales. +But the contents (with due regard to the possibility of later +insertions), references in other writings, and the dialect show that +our <i>Arabian Nights</i> took form in Egypt very soon after the year 1450. +The author, doubtless a professional teller of stories, was, like his +Schehera-zade, a person of extensive reading and faultless memory, +fluent of speech, and ready on occasion to drop into poetry. The +coarseness of the Arabic narrative, which does not appear in our +translation, is characteristic of Egyptian society under the Mameluke +sultans. It would have been tolerated by the subjects of the caliph in +old Bagdad no more than by modern Christians.</p> + +<p>More fascinating stories were never told. Though the oath of an +Oriental was of all things the most sacred, and though Schah-riar had +"bound himself by a solemn vow to marry a new wife every night, and +command her to be strangled in the morning," we well believe that he +forswore himself, and granted his bride a stay of execution until he +could find out why the ten polite young gentlemen, all blind of the +right eye, "having blackened themselves, wept and lamented, beating +their heads and breasts, and crying continually, 'This is the fruit of +our idleness and curiosity.'" To be sure, when the golden door has +been opened, and the black horse has vanished with that vicious switch +of his tail, we have a little feeling of having been "sold,"—a +feeling which great art never gives. But we are in the best of humor; +for were we not warned all along against just this foible of +curiosity, and is not the story-teller smiling inscrutably and +advising us to be thankful that we at least still have our two good +eyes?</p> + +<p>Beside the story interest, the life and movement of the tales, the +spirits that enter and set their own precedents, there is for us the +charm of mingling with men so different from ourselves: men +adventurous but never strenuous, men of many tribulations but no +perplexities. Fantastic, magnificent, extravagant, beautiful, +gloriously colored, humorous—was ever book of such infinite +contrasts?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr><td></td><td class="tocpg f1">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_ARABIAN_NIGHTS">The Sultan and his Vow</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_STORY_OF_THE_MERCHANT_AND_THE_GENIE">The Story of the Merchant and the Genie</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_THREE_CALENDERS_SONS_OF_KINGS_AND_THE_FIVE_LADIES_OF_BAGDAD">The Three Calenders, Sons of Kings, and the Five Ladies of Bagdad</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#STORY_OF_THE_THREE_SISTERS">The Story of the Three Sisters</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_STORY_OF_ALADDIN_OR_THE_WONDERFUL_LAMP">The Story of Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_HISTORY_OF_ALI_BABA_AND_OF_THE_FORTY_ROBBERS_KILLED_BY_ONE_SLAVE">The History of Ali Baba, and of the Forty Robbers Killed by One Slave</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_STORY_OF_SINDBAD_THE_SAILOR50">The Story of Sindbad the Sailor</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td></tr> +</table> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/image_004.jpg" width="500" height="613" alt="Illustration" /> +</div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + +<table summary="Illustrations"> +<tr><td><i><a href="#pic_1">The genie immediately returned with a tray bearing dishes of +the most delicious viands</a></i></td> +<td><a href="#pic_1">Frontispiece</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td></td><td class="tocpg"><span class="smcap f1">PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td><i><a href="#pic_2">He had the gift of understanding the language of beasts</a></i></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><i><a href="#pic_3">He was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such beauties</a></i></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><i><a href="#pic_4">These ladies vied with each other in their eager solicitude to do me all possible service</a></i></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><i><a href="#pic_5">The gardener, with the rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket to the side of the canal</a></i></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><i><a href="#pic_6">He presently discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave into the princess's hands</a></i></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><i><a href="#pic_7">She drew the poniard, and, holding it in her hand, began a dance</a></i></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><i><a href="#pic_8">Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board with the two oars I had made</a></i></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td></tr> +</table> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/image_006.jpg" width="500" height="496" alt="Illustration" /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE ARABIAN NIGHTS</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_ARABIAN_NIGHTS" id="THE_ARABIAN_NIGHTS"></a>THE SULTAN AND HIS VOW</h2> +<p>It is written in the chronicles of the Sassanian monarchs that there +once lived an illustrious prince, beloved by his own subjects for his +wisdom and his prudence, and feared by his enemies for his courage and +for the hardy and well-disciplined army of which he was the leader. +This prince had two sons, the elder called Schah-riar, and the younger +Schah-zenan, both equally good and deserving of praise.</p> + +<p>When the old king died at the end of a long and glorious reign, +Schah-riar, his eldest son, ascended the throne and reigned in his +stead. Schah-zenan, however, was not in the least envious, and a +friendly contest soon arose between the two brothers as to which could +best promote the happiness of the other. Schah-zenan did all he could +to show his loyalty and affection, while the new sultan loaded his +brother with all possible honors, and in order that he might in some +degree share the sultan's power and wealth, bestowed on him the +kingdom of Great Tartary. Schah-zenan immediately went to take +possession of the empire allotted him, and fixed his residence at +Samarcand, the chief city.</p> + +<p>After a separation of ten years Schah-riar so ardently desired to see +his brother, that he sent his first vizier,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> with a splendid +embassy, to invite him to revisit his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>court. As soon as Schah-zenan +was informed of the approach of the vizier, he went out to meet him, +with all his ministers, in most magnificent dress, and inquired after +the health of the sultan, his brother. Having replied to these +affectionate inquiries, the vizier told the purpose of his coming. +Schah-zenan, who was much affected at the kindness and recollection of +his brother, then addressed the vizier in these words: "Sage vizier, +the sultan, my brother, does me too much honor. It is impossible that +his wish to see me can exceed my desire of again beholding him. You +have come at a happy moment. My kingdom is tranquil, and in ten days' +time I will be ready to depart with you. Meanwhile pitch your tents on +this spot, and I will order every refreshment and accommodation for +you and your whole train."</p> + +<p>At the end of ten days everything was ready, and Schah-zenan took a +tender leave of the queen, his consort. Accompanied by such officers +as he had appointed to attend him, he left Samarcand in the evening +and camped near the tents of his brother's ambassador, that they might +proceed on their journey early the following morning. Wishing, +however, once more to see his queen, whom he tenderly loved, he +returned privately to the palace, and went directly to her apartment. +There, to his extreme grief, he found her in the company of a slave +whom she plainly loved better than himself. Yielding to the first +outburst of his indignation, the unfortunate monarch drew his +scimitar, and with one rapid stroke slew them both.</p> + +<p>He then went from the city as privately as he had entered it, and +returned to his pavilion. Not a word<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> did he say to any one of what +had happened. At dawn he ordered the tents to be struck, and the party +set forth on their journey to the sound of drums and other musical +instruments. The whole train was filled with joy, except the king, who +could think of nothing but his queen, and he was a prey to the deepest +grief and melancholy during the whole journey.</p> + +<p>When he approached the capital of Persia he perceived the Sultan +Schah-riar and all his court coming out to greet him. As soon as the +parties met the two brothers alighted and embraced each other; and +after a thousand expressions of regard, remounted and entered the city +amid the shouts of the multitude. The sultan there conducted the king +his brother to a palace which had been prepared for him. This palace +communicated by a garden with the sultan's own and was even more +magnificent, as it was the spot where all the fêtes and splendid +entertainments of the court were given.</p> + +<p>Schah-riar left the King of Tartary in order that he might bathe and +change his dress; but immediately on his return from the bath went to +him again. They seated themselves on a sofa, and conversed till supper +time. After so long a separation they seemed even more united by +affection than by blood. They ate supper together, and then continued +their conversation till Schah-riar, perceiving the night far advanced, +left his brother to repose.</p> + +<p>The unfortunate Schah-zenan retired to his couch; but if in the +presence of the sultan he had for a while forgotten his grief, it now +returned with doubled force. Every circumstance of the queen's death +arose to his mind and kept him awake, and left such a look of sorrow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +on his face that next morning the sultan could not fail to notice it. +He did all in his power to show his continued love and affection, and +sought to amuse his brother with the most splendid entertainments, but +the gayest fêtes served only to increase Schah-zenan's melancholy.</p> + +<p>One morning when Schah-riar had given orders for a grand hunting party +at the distance of two days' journey from the city, Schah-zenan +requested permission to remain in his palace on account of a slight +illness. The sultan, wishing to please him, consented, but he himself +went with all his court to partake of the sport.</p> + +<p>The King of Tartary was no sooner alone than he shut himself up in his +apartment, and gave way to his sorrow. But as he sat thus grieving at +the open window, looking out upon the beautiful garden of the palace, +he suddenly saw the sultana, the beloved wife of his brother, meet a +man in the garden with whom she held an affectionate conversation. +Upon witnessing this interview, Schah-zenan determined that he would +no longer give way to such inconsolable grief for a misfortune which +came to other husbands as well as to himself. He ordered supper to be +brought, and ate with a better appetite than he had before done since +leaving Samarcand. He even enjoyed the fine concert performed while he +sat at table.</p> + +<p>Schah-riar returned from the hunt at the close of the second day, and +was delighted at the change which he soon found had taken place in his +brother. He urged him to explain the cause of his former depression +and of his present joy. The King of Tartary, feeling it his duty to +obey his suzerain lord, related the story of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> wife's misconduct, +and of the severe punishment which he had visited on her. Schah-riar +expressed his full approval of his brother's conduct.</p> + +<p>"I own," he said, "had I been in your place I should have been less +easily satisfied. I should not have been contented to take away the +life of one woman, but should have sacrificed a thousand to my +resentment. Your fate, surely, is most singular. Since, however, it +has pleased God to afford you consolation, which, I am sure, is as +well founded as was your grief, inform me, I beg, of that also."</p> + +<p>Schah-zenan was very reluctant to relate what he had seen, but at last +yielded to the urgent commands and entreaties of his brother, and told +him of the faithlessness of his own queen.</p> + +<p>At this unexpected news, the rage and grief of Schah-riar knew no +bounds. He far exceeded his brother in his invectives and indignation. +Not only did he sentence to death his unhappy sultana but bound +himself by a solemn vow that, immediately on the departure of the king +his brother, he would marry a new wife every night, and command her to +be strangled in the morning. Schah-zenan soon after had a solemn +audience of leave, and returned to his own kingdom, laden with the +most magnificent presents.</p> + +<p>When Schah-zenan was gone the sultan began to carry out his unhappy +oath. Every night he married the daughter of some one of his subjects, +and the next morning she was ordered out and put to death. It was the +duty of the grand vizier to execute these commands of the sultan's, +and revolting as they were to him, he was obliged to submit or lose +his own head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> The report of this unexampled inhumanity spread a panic +of consternation throughout the city. Instead of the praises and +blessings with which, until now, they had loaded their monarch, all +his subjects poured out curses on his head.</p> + +<p>The grand vizier had two daughters, the elder of whom was called +Schehera-zade, and the younger Dinar-zade. Schehera-zade was possessed +of a remarkable degree of courage. She had read much, and had so good +a memory that she never forgot anything she had once read or heard. +Her beauty was equaled only by her virtuous disposition. The vizier +was passionately fond of her.</p> + +<p>One day as they were talking together, she made the astonishing +request that she might have the honor of becoming the sultan's bride. +The grand vizier was horrified, and tried to dissuade her. He pointed +out the fearful penalty attached to the favor she sought. +Schehera-zade, however, persisted, telling her father she had in mind +a plan which she thought might put a stop to the sultan's dreadful +cruelty.</p> + +<p>"I am aware of the danger I run, my father," she said, "but it does +not deter me from my purpose. If I die, my death will be glorious; if +I succeed, I shall render my country an important service."</p> + +<p>Still the vizier was most reluctant to allow his beloved child to +enter on so dangerous an enterprise, and attempted to turn her from +her purpose by telling her the following story:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THE FABLE OF THE ASS, THE OX, AND THE LABORER</h3> +<p>A very rich merchant had several farmhouses in the country, where he +bred every kind of cattle. <a name="anch_2" id="anch_2"></a>This merchant understood the language of +beasts. He obtained this privilege on the condition of not imparting +to any one what he heard, under penalty of death.</p> + +<p>By chance<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> he had put an ox and an ass into the same stall; and +being seated near them, he heard the ox say to the ass: "How happy do +I think your lot. A servant looks after you with great care, washes +you, feeds you with fine sifted barley, and gives you fresh and clean +water; your greatest task is to carry the merchant, our master. My +condition is as unfortunate as yours is pleasant. They yoke me to a +plow the whole day, while the laborer urges me on with his goad. The +weight and force of the plow, too, chafes all the skin from my neck. +When I have worked from morning till night, they give me unwholesome +and uninviting food. Have I not, then, reason to envy your lot?"</p> + +<p>When he had finished, the ass replied in these words: "Believe me, +they would not treat you thus if you possessed as much courage as +strength. When they come to tie you to the manger, what resistance, +pray, do you ever make? Do you ever push them with your horns? Do you +ever show your anger by stamping on the ground with your feet? Why +don't you terrify them with your bellowing? Nature has given you the +means of making yourself respected, and yet you neglect to use them. +They bring you bad beans and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>chaff. Well, do not eat them; smell at +them only and leave them. Thus, if you follow my plans, you will soon +perceive a change, which you will thank me for."</p> + +<p>The ox took the advice of the ass very kindly, and declared himself +much obliged to him.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the laborer came for the ox, and yoked him to +the plow, and set him to work as usual. The latter, who had not +forgotten the advice he had received, was very unruly the whole day; +and at night, when the laborer attempted to fasten him to the stall, +he ran bellowing back, and put down his horns to strike him; in short, +he did exactly as the ass had advised him.</p> + +<p>On the next morning, when the man came, he found the manger still full +of beans and chaff, and the ox lying on the ground with his legs +stretched out, and making a strange groaning. The laborer thought him +very ill, and that it would be useless to take him to work; he, +therefore, immediately went and informed the merchant.</p> + +<p>The latter perceived that the bad advice of the ass had been followed; +and he told the laborer to go and take the ass instead of the ox, and +not fail to give him plenty of exercise. The man obeyed; and the ass +was obliged to drag the plow the whole day, which tired him the more +because he was unaccustomed to it; besides which, he was so beaten +that he could scarcely support himself when he came back, and fell +down in his stall half dead.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Here the grand vizier said to Schehera-zade: "You are, my child, just +like this ass, and would expose yourself to destruction."</p> + +<p>"Sir," replied Schehera-zade, "the example which you have brought does +not alter my resolution, and I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>shall not cease importuning you till +I have obtained from you the favor of presenting me to the sultan as +his consort."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_2" id="pic_2"></a> +<img src="images/image_005.jpg" width="500" height="727" alt="He had the gift of understanding the language of beasts." title="He had the gift of understanding the language of beasts." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">He had the gift of understanding the language of +beasts. <a href="#anch_2">Page 15</a></span></div> + +<p>The vizier, finding her persistent in her request, said, "Well then, +since you will remain thus obstinate, I shall be obliged to treat you +as the rich merchant I mentioned did his wife."</p> + +<p>Being told in what a miserable state the ass was, he was curious to +know what passed between him and the ox. After supper, therefore, he +went out by moonlight, accompanied by his wife, and sat down near +them; on his arrival, he heard the ass say to the ox, "Tell me, +brother, what you mean to do when the laborer brings you food +to-morrow!"</p> + +<p>"Mean to do!" replied the ox. "Why, what you taught me, to be sure."</p> + +<p>"Take care," interrupted the ass, "what you are about, lest you +destroy yourself; for in coming home yesterday evening, I heard our +master say these sad words: 'Since the ox can neither eat nor support +himself, I wish him to be killed to-morrow; do not, therefore, fail to +send for the butcher.' This is what I heard; and the interest I take +in your safety, and the friendship I have for you, induces me to +mention it. When they bring you beans and chaff, get up, and begin +eating directly. Our master, by this, will suppose that you have +recovered, and will, without doubt, revoke the sentence for your +death; in my opinion, if you act otherwise, it is all over with you."</p> + +<p>This speech produced the intended effect; the ox was much troubled, +and lowed with fear. The merchant, who had listened to everything with +great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> attention, burst into a fit of laughter that quite surprised +his wife.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," said she, "what you laugh at, that I may join in it. I wish +to know the cause."</p> + +<p>"That satisfaction," replied the husband, "I cannot afford you. I can +only tell you that I laughed at what the ass said to the ox; the rest +is a secret, which I must not reveal."</p> + +<p>"And why not?" asked his wife.</p> + +<p>"Because, if I tell you, it will cost me my life."</p> + +<p>"You trifle with me," added she; "this can never be true; and if you +do not immediately inform me what you laughed at, I swear by Allah +that we will live together no longer."</p> + +<p>In saying this, she went back to the house in a pet, shut herself up, +and cried the whole night. Her husband, finding that she continued in +the same state all the next day, said, "How foolish it is to afflict +yourself in this way! Do I not seriously tell you, that if I were to +yield to your foolish importunities, it would cost me my life?"</p> + +<p>"Whatever happens rests with Allah," said she; "but I shall not alter +my mind."</p> + +<p>"I see very plainly," answered the merchant, "it it not possible to +make you submit to reason, and that your obstinacy will kill you."</p> + +<p>He then sent for the parents and other relations of his wife; when +they were all assembled, he explained to them his motives for calling +them together, and requested them to use all their influence with his +wife, and endeavor to convince her of the folly of her conduct. She +rejected them all, and said she had rather die than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> give up this +point to her husband. When her children saw that nothing could alter +her resolution, they began to lament most bitterly—the merchant +himself knew not what to do.</p> + +<p>A little while afterward he was sitting by chance at the door of his +house, considering whether he should not even sacrifice himself in +order to save his wife, whom he so tenderly loved, when he saw his +favorite dog run up to the cock in the farmyard, and tell him all the +circumstances of the painful situation in which he was placed. Upon +which the cock said, "How foolish must our master be. He has but one +wife, and cannot gain his point, while I have fifty, and do just as I +please. Let him take a good-sized stick, and not scruple to use it, +and she will soon know better, and not worry him to reveal what he +ought to keep secret."</p> + +<p>The merchant at once did as he suggested, on which his wife quickly +repented of her ill-timed curiosity, and all her family came in, +heartily glad at finding her more rational and submissive to her +husband.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"You deserve, my daughter," added the grand vizier, "to be treated +like the merchant's wife."</p> + +<p>"Do not, sir," answered Schehera-zade, "think ill of me if I still +persist in my sentiments. The history of this woman does not shake my +resolution. I could recount, on the other hand, many good reasons +which ought to persuade you not to oppose my design. Pardon me, too, +if I add that your opposition will be useless; for if your paternal +tenderness should refuse the request I make, I will present myself to +the sultan."</p> + +<p>At length the vizier, overcome by his daughter's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> firmness, yielded to +her entreaties; and although he was very sorry at not being able to +conquer her resolution, he immediately went to Schah-riar, and +announced to him that Schehera-zade herself would be his bride on the +following night.</p> + +<p>The sultan was much astonished at the sacrifice of the grand vizier. +"Is it possible," said he, "that you can give up your own child?"</p> + +<p>"Sire," replied the vizier, "she has herself made the offer. The +dreadful fate that hangs over her does not alarm her; and she resigns +her life for the honor of being the consort of your majesty, though it +be but for one night."</p> + +<p>"Vizier," said the sultan, "do not deceive yourself with any hopes; +for be assured that, in delivering Schehera-zade into your charge +to-morrow, it will be with an order for her death; and if you disobey, +your own head will be the forfeit."</p> + +<p>"Although," answered the vizier, "I am her father, I will answer for +the fidelity of this arm in fulfilling your commands."</p> + +<p>When the grand vizier returned to Schehera-zade, she thanked her +father; and observing him to be much afflicted, consoled him by saying +that she hoped he would be so far from repenting her marriage with the +sultan that it would become a subject of joy to him for the remainder +of his life.</p> + +<p>Before Schehera-zade went to the palace, she called her sister, +Dinar-zade, aside, and said, "As soon as I shall have presented myself +before the sultan, I shall entreat him to suffer you to sleep in the +bridal chamber, that I may enjoy for the last time your company. If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> I +obtain this favor, as I expect, remember to awaken me to-morrow +morning an hour before daybreak, and say, 'If you are not asleep, my +sister, I beg of you, till the morning appears, to recount to me one +of those delightful stories you know.' I will immediately begin to +tell one; and I flatter myself that by these means I shall free the +kingdom from the consternation in which it is."</p> + +<p>Dinar-zade promised to do with pleasure what she required.</p> + +<p>Within a short time Schehera-zade was conducted by her father to the +palace, and was admitted to the presence of the sultan. They were no +sooner alone than the sultan ordered her to take off her veil. He was +charmed with her beauty; but perceiving her tears, he demanded the +cause of them.</p> + +<p>"Sire," answered Schehera-zade, "I have a sister whom I tenderly +love—I earnestly wish that she might be permitted to pass the night +in this apartment, that we may again see each other, and once more +take a tender farewell. Will you allow me the consolation of giving +her this last proof of my affection?"</p> + +<p>Schah-riar having agreed to it, they sent for Dinar-zade, who came +directly. The sultan passed the night with Schehera-zade on an +elevated couch, as was the custom among the eastern monarchs, and +Dinar-zade slept at the foot of it on a mattress prepared for the +purpose.</p> + +<p>Dinar-zade, having awakened about an hour before day, did what her +sister had ordered her. "My dear sister," she said, "if you are not +asleep, I entreat you, as it will soon be light, to relate to me one +of those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> delightful tales you know. It will, alas, be the last time I +shall receive that pleasure."</p> + +<p>Instead of returning any answer to her sister, Schehera-zade addressed +these words to the sultan: "Will your majesty permit me to indulge my +sister in her request?"</p> + +<p>"Freely," replied he.</p> + +<p>Schehera-zade then desired her sister to attend, and, addressing +herself to the sultan, began as follows:</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/image_008.jpg" width="500" height="490" alt="Illustration" /> +</div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Vazir, Vezir—literally, a porter, that is, the minister +who bears the principal burden of the state.—D'Herbelot, +<i>Bibliotheque Orientale.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The ass and the ox in the East were subject to very +different treatment; the one was strong to labor, and was little cared +for—the other was reserved for princes and judges to ride on, and was +tended with the utmost attention.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_STORY_OF_THE_MERCHANT_AND_THE_GENIE" id="THE_STORY_OF_THE_MERCHANT_AND_THE_GENIE"></a>THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE</h2> + + +<p>There was formerly, sire, a merchant, who was possessed of great +wealth, in land, merchandise, and ready money. Having one day an +affair of great importance to settle at a considerable distance from +home, he mounted his horse, and with only a sort of cloak-bag behind +him, in which he had put a few biscuits and dates, he began his +journey. He arrived without any accident at the place of his +destination; and having finished his business, set out on his return.</p> + +<p>On the fourth day of his journey he felt himself so incommoded by the +heat of the sun that he turned out of his road, in order to rest under +some trees by which there was a fountain. He alighted, and tying his +horse to a branch of the tree, sat down on its bank to eat some +biscuits and dates from his little store. When he had satisfied his +hunger he amused himself with throwing about the stones of the fruit +with considerable velocity. When he had finished his frugal repast he +washed his hands, his face, and his feet, and repeated a prayer, like +a good Mussulman.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>He was still on his knees, when he saw a genie,<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>white with age and +of an enormous stature, advancing toward him, with a scimitar in his +hand. As soon as he was close to him he said in a most terrible tone: +"Get up, that I may kill thee with this scimitar, as thou hast caused +the death of my son." He accompanied these words with a dreadful yell.</p> + +<p>The merchant, alarmed by the horrible figure of this giant, as well as +by the words he heard, replied in trembling accents: "How can I have +slain him? I do not know him, nor have I ever seen him."</p> + +<p>"Didst thou not," replied the giant, "on thine arrival here, sit down, +and take some dates from thy wallet; and after eating them, didst thou +not throw the stones about on all sides?"</p> + +<p>"This is all true," replied the merchant; "I do not deny it."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said the other, "I tell thee thou hast killed my son; +for while thou wast throwing about the stones, my son passed by; one +of them struck him in the eye, and caused his death,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> and thus hast +thou slain my son."</p> + +<p>"Ah, sire, forgive me," cried the merchant.</p> + +<p>"I have neither forgiveness nor mercy," replied the giant; "and is it +not just that he who has inflicted death should suffer it?"</p> + +<p>"I grant this; yet surely I have not done so: and even <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>if I have, I +have done so innocently, and therefore I entreat you to pardon me, and +suffer me to live."</p> + +<p>"No, no," cried the genie, still persisting in his resolution, "I must +destroy thee, as thou hast killed my son."</p> + +<p>At these words, he took the merchant in his arms, and having thrown +him with his face on the ground, he lifted up his saber, in order to +strike off his head.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Schehera-zade, at this instant perceiving it was day, and knowing that +the sultan rose early to his prayers,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> and then to hold a council, +broke off.</p> + +<p>"What a wonderful story," said Dinar-zade, "have you chosen!"</p> + +<p>"The conclusion," observed Schehera-zade, "is still more surprising, +as you would confess if the sultan would suffer me to live another +day, and in the morning permit me to continue the relation."</p> + +<p>Schah-riar, who had listened with much pleasure to the narration, +determined to wait till to-morrow, intending to order her execution +after she had finished her story.</p> + +<p>He arose, and having prayed, went to the council.</p> + +<p>The grand vizier, in the meantime, was in a state of cruel suspense. +Unable to sleep, he passed the night in lamenting the approaching fate +of his daughter, whose executioner he was compelled to be. Dreading, +therefore, in this melancholy situation, to meet the sultan, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>how +great was his surprise in seeing him enter the council chamber without +giving him the horrible order he expected!</p> + +<p>The sultan spent the day, as usual, in regulating the affairs of his +kingdom, and on the approach of night, retired with Schehera-zade to +his apartment.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p>On the next morning, the sultan did not wait for Schehera-zade to ask +permission to continue her story, but said, "Finish the tale of the +genie and the merchant. I am curious to hear the end of it." +Schehera-zade immediately went on as follows:</p> + +<p>When the merchant, sire, perceived that the genie was about to execute +his purpose, he cried aloud: "One word more, I entreat you; have the +goodness to grant me a little delay; give me only one year to go and +take leave of my dear wife and children, and I promise to return to +this spot, and submit myself entirely to your pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Take Allah to witness of the promise thou hast made me," said the +other.</p> + +<p>"Again I swear," replied he, "and you may rely on my oath."</p> + +<p>On this the genie left him near the fountain, and immediately +disappeared.</p> + +<p>The merchant, on his reaching home, related faithfully all that had +happened to him. On hearing the sad news, his wife uttered the most +lamentable groans, tearing her hair and beating her breast; and his +children made the house resound with their grief. The father, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>overcome by affection, mingled his tears with theirs.</p> + +<p>The year quickly passed. The good merchant having settled his affairs, +paid his just debts, given alms to the poor, and made provision to the +best of his ability for his wife and family, tore himself away amid +the most frantic expressions of grief; and mindful of his oath, he +arrived at the destined spot on the very day he had promised.</p> + +<p>While he was waiting for the arrival of the genie, there suddenly +appeared an old man leading a hind, who, after a respectful +salutation, inquired what brought him to that desert place. The +merchant satisfied the old man's curiosity, and related his adventure, +on which he expressed a wish to witness his interview with the genie. +He had scarcely finished his speech when another old man, accompanied +by two black dogs, came in sight, and having heard the tale of the +merchant, he also determined to remain to see the event.</p> + +<p>Soon they perceived, toward the plain, a thick vapor or smoke, like a +column of dust raised by the wind. This vapor approached them, and +then suddenly disappearing, they saw the genie, who, without noticing +the others, went toward the merchant, scimitar in hand. Taking him by +the arm, "Get up," said he, "that I may kill thee, as thou hast slain +my son."</p> + +<p>Both the merchant and the two old men, struck with terror, began to +weep and fill the air with their lamentations.</p> + +<p>When the old man who conducted the hind saw the genie lay hold of the +merchant, and about to murder him without mercy, he threw himself at +the monster's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> feet, and, kissing them, said, "Lord Genie, I humbly +entreat you to suspend your rage, and hear my history, and that of the +hind, which you see; and if you find it more wonderful and surprising +than the adventure of this merchant, whose life you wish to take, may +I not hope that you will at least grant me one half part the blood of +this unfortunate man?"</p> + +<p>After meditating some time, the genie answered, "Well then, I agree to +it."</p> + + +<h3>THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST OLD MAN AND THE HIND</h3> +<p>The hind, whom you, Lord Genie, see here, is my wife. I married her +when she was twelve years old, and we lived together thirty years, +without having any children. At the end of that time I adopted into my +family a son, whom a slave had borne. This act of mine excited against +the mother and her child the hatred and jealousy of my wife. During my +absence on a journey she availed herself of her knowledge of magic to +change the slave and my adopted son into a cow and a calf, and sent +them to my farm to be fed and taken care of by the steward.</p> + +<p>Immediately on my return I inquired after my child and his mother.</p> + +<p>"Your slave is dead," said she, "and it is now more than two months +since I have beheld your son; nor do I know what has become of him."</p> + +<p>I was sensibly affected at the death of the slave; but as my son had +only disappeared, I flattered myself that he would soon be found. +Eight months, however, passed, and he did not return; nor could I +learn any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> tidings of him. In order to celebrate the festival of the +great Bairam,<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> which was approaching, I ordered my bailiff to bring +me the fattest cow I possessed, for a sacrifice. He obeyed my +commands. Having bound the cow, I was about to make the sacrifice, +when at the very instant she lowed most sorrowfully, and the tears +even fell from her eyes. This seemed to me so extraordinary that I +could not but feel compassion for her, and was unable to give the +fatal blow. I therefore ordered her to be taken away, and another +brought.</p> + +<p>My wife, who was present, seemed very angry at my compassion, and +opposed my order.</p> + +<p>I then said to my steward, "Make the sacrifice yourself; the +lamentations and tears of the animal have overcome me."</p> + +<p>The steward was less compassionate, and sacrificed her. On taking off +the skin we found hardly anything but bones, though she appeared very +fat.</p> + +<p>"Take her away," said I to the steward, truly chagrined, "and if you +have a very fat calf, bring it in her place."</p> + +<p>He returned with a remarkably fine calf, who, as soon as he perceived +me, made so great an effort to come to me that he broke his cord. He +lay down at my feet, with his head on the ground, as if he endeavored +to excite my compassion, and to entreat me not to have the cruelty to +take away his life.</p> + +<p>"Wife," said I, "I will not sacrifice this calf, I wish <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>to favor him. +Do not you, therefore, oppose it."</p> + +<p>She, however, did not agree to my proposal; and continued to demand +his sacrifice so obstinately that I was compelled to yield. I bound +the calf, and took the fatal knife to bury it in his throat, when he +turned his eyes, filled with tears, so persuasively upon me, that I +had no power to execute my intention. The knife fell from my hand, and +I told my wife I was determined to have another calf. She tried every +means to induce me to alter my mind; I continued firm, however, in my +resolution, in spite of all she could say; promising, for the sake of +appeasing her, to sacrifice this calf at the feast of Bairam on the +following year.</p> + +<p>The next morning my steward desired to speak with me in private. He +informed me that his daughter, who had some knowledge of magic, wished +to speak with me. On being admitted to my presence, she informed me +that during my absence my wife had turned the slave and my son into a +cow and calf, that I had already sacrificed the cow, but that she +could restore my son to life if I would give him to her for her +husband, and allow her to visit my wife with the punishment her +cruelty had deserved. To these proposals I gave my consent.</p> + +<p>The damsel then took a vessel full of water, and pronouncing over it +some words I did not understand, she threw the water over the calf, +and he instantly regained his own form.</p> + +<p>"My son! My son!" I exclaimed, and embraced him with transport. "This +damsel has destroyed the horrible charm with which you were +surrounded. I am sure your gratitude will induce you to marry her, as +I have already promised for you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>He joyfully consented; but before they were united the damsel changed +my wife into this hind, which you see here.</p> + +<p>Since this, my son has become a widower, and is now traveling. Many +years have passed since I have heard anything of him. I have, +therefore, now set out with a view to gain some information; and as I +did not like to trust my wife to the care of any one during my search, +I thought proper to carry her along with me. This is the history of +myself and this hind. Can anything be more wonderful?</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," said the genie, "and in consequence, I grant to +you a half of the blood of this merchant."</p> + +<p>As soon as the first old man had finished, the second, who led the two +black dogs, made the same request to the genie for a half of the +merchant's blood, on the condition that his tale exceeded in interest +the one that had just been related. On the genie signifying his +assent, the old man began.</p> + + +<h3>THE HISTORY OF THE SECOND OLD MAN AND THE TWO BLACK DOGS</h3> +<p>Great Prince of the genies, you must know that these two black dogs, +which you see here, and myself, are three brothers. Our father, when +he died, left us one thousand sequins each. With this sum we all +embarked in business as merchants. My two brothers determined to +travel, that they might trade in foreign parts. They were both +unfortunate, and returned at the end of two years in a state of abject +poverty, having lost their all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> I had in the meanwhile prospered. I +gladly received them, and gave them one thousand sequins each, and +again set them up as merchants.</p> + +<p>My brothers frequently proposed to me that I should make a voyage with +them for the purpose of traffic. Knowing their former want of success, +I refused to join them, until at the end of five years I at length +yielded to their repeated solicitations. On consulting on the +merchandise to be bought for the voyage, I discovered that nothing +remained of the thousand sequins I had given to each. I did not +reproach them; on the contrary, as my capital was increased to six +thousand sequins, I gave them each one thousand sequins, and kept a +like sum myself, concealing the other three thousand in a corner of my +house, in order that if our voyage proved unsuccessful we might be +able to console ourselves and begin our former profession.</p> + +<p>We purchased our goods, embarked in a vessel, which we ourselves +freighted, and set sail with a favorable wind. After sailing about a +month, we arrived, without any accident, at a port, where we landed, +and had a most advantageous sale for our merchandise. I, in +particular, sold mine so well that I gained ten for one.</p> + +<p>About the time that we were ready to embark on our return, I +accidentally met on the seashore a female of great beauty, but very +poorly dressed. She accosted me by kissing my hand, and entreated me +most earnestly to permit her to be my wife. I stated many difficulties +to such a plan; but at length she said so much to persuade me that I +ought not to regard her poverty, and that I should be well satisfied +with her conduct, I was quite overcome. I directly procured proper +dresses for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> her, and after marrying her in due form, she embarked +with me, and we set sail.</p> + +<p>During our voyage I found my wife possessed of so many good qualities +that I loved her every day more and more. In the meantime my two +brothers, who had not traded so advantageously as myself, and who were +jealous of my prosperity, began to feel exceedingly envious. They even +went so far as to conspire against my life; for one night, while my +wife and I were asleep, they threw us into the sea. I had hardly, +however, fallen into the water, before my wife took me up and +transported me to an island. As soon as it was day she thus addressed +me:</p> + +<p>"You must know that I am a fairy, and being upon the shore when you +were about to sail, I wished to try the goodness of your heart, and +for this purpose I presented myself before you in the disguise you +saw. You acted most generously, and I am therefore delighted in +finding an occasion of showing my gratitude, and I trust, my husband, +that in saving your life I have not ill rewarded the good you have +done me. But I am enraged against your brothers, nor shall I be +satisfied till I have taken their lives."</p> + +<p>I listened with astonishment to the discourse of the fairy, and +thanked her, as well as I was able, for the great obligation she had +conferred on me.</p> + +<p>"But, madam," said I to her, "I must entreat you to pardon my +brothers."</p> + +<p>I related to her what I had done for each of them, but my account only +increased her anger.</p> + +<p>"I must instantly fly after these ungrateful wretches," cried she, +"and bring them to a just punishment; I will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> sink their vessel, and +precipitate them to the bottom of the sea."</p> + +<p>"No, beautiful lady," replied I, "for heaven's sake moderate your +indignation, and do not execute so dreadful an intention; remember, +they are still my brothers, and that we are bound to return good for +evil."</p> + +<p>No sooner had I pronounced these words, than I was transported in an +instant from the island, where we were, to the top of my own house. I +descended, opened the doors, and dug up the three thousand sequins +which I had hidden. I afterward repaired to my shop, opened it, and +received the congratulations of the merchants in the neighborhood on +my arrival. When I returned home I perceived these two black dogs, +which came toward me with a submissive air. I could not imagine what +this meant, but the fairy, who soon appeared, satisfied my curiosity.</p> + +<p>"My dear husband," said she, "be not surprised at seeing these two +dogs in your house; they are your brothers."</p> + +<p>My blood ran cold on hearing this, and I inquired by what power they +had been transformed into that state.</p> + +<p>"It is I," replied the fairy, "who have done it, and I have sunk their +ship; for the loss of the merchandise it contained I shall recompense +you. As to your brothers, I have condemned them to remain under this +form for ten years, as a punishment for their perfidy."</p> + +<p>Then informing me where I might hear of her, she disappeared.</p> + +<p>The ten years are now completed, and I am traveling in search of her. +This, O Lord Genie, is my history;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> does it not appear to you of a +most extraordinary nature?</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the genie, "I confess it is most wonderful, and +therefore I grant you the other half of this merchant's blood," and +having said this, the genie disappeared, to the great joy of the +merchant and of the two old men.</p> + +<p>The merchant did not omit to bestow many thanks upon his liberators, +who, bidding him adieu, proceeded on their travels. He remounted his +horse, returned home to his wife and children, and spent the remainder +of his days with them in tranquillity.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/image_010.jpg" width="500" height="466" alt="Illustration" /> +</div> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Mussulman signifies resigned, or "conformed to the divine +will." The Arabic word is Moslemuna, in the singular, Moslem; which +the Mohammedans take as a title peculiar to themselves. The Europeans +generally write and pronounce it Mussulman.—Sale's <i>Koran</i>, c. ii, p. +16. 4to, 1734.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> These tales are furnished throughout with a certain +imaginary machinery. They have, as their foundation, the perpetual +intervention of certain fantastic beings, in most cases superior to +man, but yet subordinate to the authority of certain favored +individuals. These beings may, for our purpose, be generally divided +into genies, whose interference is generally for evil; peris, whose +presence indicates favorable issues to those whom they befriend; and +ghouls, monsters which have a less direct control over man's affairs, +but represent any monster repugnant or loathsome to mankind.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> "Now this, at first sight, seems a singular, if not a +ridiculous thing; but even this has its foundation in an Eastern +custom. It is in this manner that prisoners are sometimes put to +death; a man sits down at a little distance from the object he intends +to destroy, and then attacks him by repeatedly shooting at him with +the stone of the date, thrown from his two forefingers, and in this +way puts an end to his life."—Preface to Forster's edition of +<i>Arabian Nights.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> "The Mohammedans divide their religion into two +parts—Imana, faith; and Din, practice. The first is the confession, +'There is no God but the true God, and Mohammed is his prophet.' Under +this are comprehended six distinct tenets,—1. Belief in God; 2. In +His anger; 3. In His scriptures; 4. In His prophets; 5. In the +resurrection and day of judgment; 6. God's absolute decree and +predetermination of all events, good or evil. The points of practice +are,—1. Prayer and purification; 2. Alms; 3. Fasting; 4. Pilgrimage +to Mecca."—Sale's <i>Preliminary Discourse</i>, p. 171.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> In the original work, Schehera-zade continually breaks +off to ask the sultan to spare her life for another day, that she may +finish the story on which she is engaged, and he as regularly grants +her request. These interruptions are omitted as interfering with the +continued interest of the numerous stories told by the patriotic +Schehera-zade.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Bairam, a Turkish word, signifies a feast day or holiday. +It commences on the close of the Ramadan—or the month's fast of the +Mohammedans. At this feast they kill a calf, goat, or sheep; and after +giving a part to the poor, eat the rest with their friends. It +commences with the new moon, and is supposed to be instituted in +memory of the sacrifice of his son by Abraham. The observance of the +lesser Bairam is confined to Mecca.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_THREE_CALENDERS_SONS_OF_KINGS_AND_THE_FIVE_LADIES_OF_BAGDAD" id="THE_THREE_CALENDERS_SONS_OF_KINGS_AND_THE_FIVE_LADIES_OF_BAGDAD"></a>THE THREE CALENDERS, SONS OF KINGS, AND THE FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD</h2> + + +<p>In the reign of Caliph Haroun al Raschid there was at Bagdad a porter, +who was a fellow of infinite wit and humor. One morning as he was at +the place where he usually waited for employment, with a great basket +before him, a handsome lady, covered with a great muslin veil, +accosted him, and said with a pleasant air, "Hark you, porter, take +your basket<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> and follow me."</p> + +<p>The delighted porter took his basket immediately, set it on his head, +and followed the lady, exclaiming, "Oh, happy day! Oh, day of good +luck!"</p> + +<p>In a short time the lady stopped before a gate and knocked: a +Christian, with a venerable long white beard, opened it, and she put +money into his hand without speaking; but the Christian, who knew what +she wanted, went in, and shortly after brought out a large jar of +excellent wine.</p> + +<p>"Take this jar," said the lady to the porter, "and put it into the +basket."</p> + +<p>This being done, she desired him to follow her, and walked on; the +porter still exclaiming, "Oh, day of happiness! Oh, day of agreeable +surprise and joy!"</p> + +<p>The lady stopped at a fruit shop, where she bought some apples, +apricots, peaches, lemons, citrons, oranges, myrtles, sweet basil, +lilies, jassamine, and some other plants. She told the porter to put +all those things into <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>his basket and follow her. Passing by a +butcher's shop, she ordered five and twenty pounds of his finest meat +to be weighed, which was also put into the porter's basket.</p> + +<p>At another shop she bought capers, small cucumbers, parsley, and other +herbs; at another, some pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, +kernels of the pine, and other similar fruits; at a third, she +purchased all sorts of almond patties.</p> + +<p>The porter, in putting all these things into his basket, said, "My +good lady, you should have told me that you intended buying so many +things, and I would have provided a camel to carry them, for if you +buy ever so little more, I shall not be able to bear it."</p> + +<p>The lady laughed at the fellow's pleasant humor, and ordered him still +to follow her.</p> + +<p>She then went to a druggist's, where she furnished herself with all +manner of sweet-scented waters, cloves, musk, pepper, ginger, and a +great piece of ambergris, and several other Indian spices; this quite +filled the porter's basket and she ordered him to follow her. They +walked till they came to a magnificent house, whose front was adorned +with fine columns, and had a gate of ivory. There they stopped, and +the lady knocked softly. Another lady soon came to open the gate, and +all three, after passing through a handsome vestibule, crossed a +spacious court, surrounded by an open gallery which communicated with +many magnificent apartments, all on the same floor. At the end of this +court there was a dais richly furnished, with a couch in the middle, +supported by four columns of ebony, enriched with diamonds and pearls +of an extraordinary size, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> covered with red satin, relieved by a +bordering of Indian gold. In the middle of the court there was a large +basin lined with white marble, and full of the finest transparent +water, which rushed from the mouth of a lion of gilt bronze.</p> + +<p>But what principally attracted the attention of the porter, was a +third most beautiful lady, who was seated on the couch before +mentioned. This lady was called Zobeide, she who opened the door was +called Safie, and the name of the one who had been for the provisions +was Amina. Then said Zobeide, accosting the other two, "Sisters, do +you not see that this honest man is ready to sink under his burden? +Why do you not ease him of it?"</p> + +<p>Then Amina and Safie took the basket, the one before and the other +behind; Zobeide also assisted, and all three together set it on the +ground, and then emptied it. When they had done, the beautiful Amina +took out money and paid the porter liberally.</p> + +<p><a name="anch_3" id="anch_3"></a>The porter was well satisfied, but when he ought to have departed he +was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such +beauties, who appeared to him equally charming; for Amina, having now +laid aside her veil, proved to be as handsome as either of the others. +What surprised him most was that he saw no man about the house, yet +most of the provisions he had brought in, as the dry fruits and the +several sorts of cakes and confections, were adapted chiefly for those +who could drink and make merry.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said he, addressing Zobeide, "I am sensible that I act rudely +in staying longer than I ought, but I hope you will have the goodness +to pardon me, when I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> tell you that I am astonished not to see a man +with three ladies of such extraordinary beauty; and you know that a +company of women without men is as melancholy as a company of men +without women."</p> + +<p>To this he added some pleasantries in proof of what he advanced; and +did not forget the Bagdad proverb, "That the table is not completely +furnished, except there be four in company"; so concluded, that since +they were but three, they wanted another.</p> + +<p>The ladies fell a-laughing at the porter's reasoning; after which +Zobeide gravely addressed him, "Friend, you presume rather too much; +and though you do not deserve it, I have no objection to inform you +that we are three sisters, who transact our affairs with so much +secrecy that no one knows anything of them. A good author says, 'Keep +thy own secret, and do not reveal it to any one. He that maketh his +secret known is no longer its master. If thy own breast cannot keep +thy counsel, how canst thou expect the breast of another to be more +faithful?'"</p> + +<p>"Permit me, I entreat thee, to say, that I also have read in another a +maxim, which I have always happily practiced: 'Conceal thy secret,' he +says, 'only from such as are known to be indiscreet, and who will +abuse thy confidence; but make no difficulty in discovering it to +prudent men, because they know how to keep it.' The secret, then, with +me, is as safe as if locked up in a cabinet, the key of which is lost +and the door sealed."</p> + +<p>The porter, notwithstanding his rhetoric, must, in all probability, +have retired in confusion if Amina had not taken his part, and said to +Zobeide and Safie, "My dear sisters, I conjure you to let him remain; +he will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> afford us some diversion. Were I to repeat to you all the +amusing things he addressed to me by the way, you would not feel +surprised at my taking his part."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_3" id="pic_3"></a> +<img src="images/image_007.jpg" width="500" height="721" alt="He was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such beauties." title="He was chained to the spot by the pleasure of +beholding three such beauties." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">He was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such beauties. <a href="#anch_3">Page 38</a></span></div> + +<p>At these words of Amina the porter fell on his knees, kissed the +ground at her feet, and raising himself up, said, "Most beautiful +lady, you began my good fortune to-day, and now you complete it by +this generous conduct. I cannot adequately express my acknowledgments. +As to the rest, ladies," said he, addressing himself to all the three +sisters, "since you do me so great an honor, I shall always look upon +myself as one of your most humble slaves."</p> + +<p>When he had spoken these words he would have returned the money he had +received, but Zobeide ordered him to keep it.</p> + +<p>"What we have once given," said she, "we never take back. We are +willing, too, to allow you to stay on one condition, that you keep +secret and do not ask the reason for anything you may see us do. To +show you," said Zobeide, with a serious countenance, "that what we +demand of you is not a new thing among us, read what is written over +our gate on the inside."</p> + +<p>The porter read these words, written in large characters of gold: "He +who speaks of things that do not concern him, shall hear things that +will not please him."</p> + +<p>"Ladies," said he, "I swear to you that you shall never hear me utter +a word respecting what does not relate to me, or wherein you may have +any concern."</p> + +<p>These preliminaries being settled, Amina brought in supper, and after +she had lighted up the room with tapers made of aloewood and +ambergris, which yield a most agreeable perfume as well as a delicate +light, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>she sat down with her sisters and the porter. They began +again to eat and drink, to sing, and repeat verses. The ladies +diverted themselves by intoxicating the porter, under pretext of +making him drink their healths, and the repast was enlivened by +reciprocal sallies of wit. When they were all as merry as possible, +they suddenly heard a knocking at the gate.</p> + + + +<p>Safie, whose office it was, went to the porch, and quickly returning, +told them thus: "There are three calenders<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> at the door, all blind +of the right eye, and have their heads, beards, and eyebrows shaved. +They say that they are only just arrived at Bagdad, where they have +never been before; and, as it is dark, and they know not where to +lodge, they knocked at our door by chance and pray us to show +compassion, and to take them in. They care not where we put them, +provided they obtain shelter. They are young and handsome; but I +cannot, without laughing, think of their amusing and exact likeness to +each other. My dear sisters, pray permit them to come in; they will +afford us diversion enough, and put us to little charge, because they +desire shelter only for this night, and resolve to leave us as soon as +day appears."</p> + +<p>"Go, then," said Zobeide, "and bring them in, but make them read what +is written over the gate." Safie ran out with joy, and in a little +time after returned with the three calenders.</p> + +<p>At their entrance they made a profound obeisance to the ladies, who +rose up to receive them and told them <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>courteously that they were +welcome, that they were glad of the opportunity to oblige them and to +contribute toward relieving the fatigues of their journey, and at last +invited them to sit down with them.</p> + +<p>The magnificence of the place, and the civility they received, +inspired the calenders with high respect for the ladies; but before +they sat down, having by chance cast their eyes upon the porter, whom +they saw clad almost like those devotees with whom they have continual +disputes respecting several points of discipline, because they never +shave their beards nor eyebrows,<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> one of them said, "I believe we +have got here one of our revolted Arabian brethren."</p> + +<p>The porter, having his head warm with wine, took offense at these +words, and with a fierce look, without stirring from his place, +answered, "Sit you down, and do not meddle with what does not concern +you. Have you not read the inscription over the gate? Do not pretend +to make people live after your fashion, but follow ours."</p> + +<p>"Honest man," said the calender, "do not put yourself in a passion. We +should be sorry to give you the least occasion. On the contrary, we +are ready to receive your commands." Upon which, to put an end to the +dispute, the ladies interposed, and pacified them. When the calenders +were seated, the ladies served them with meat; and Safie, being highly +pleased with them, did not let them want for wine.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> +<p>When the calenders had finished their repast, they signified to the +ladies that they wished to entertain them with a concert of music, if +they had any instruments in the house, and would cause them to be +brought. The ladies willingly accepted the proposal, and Safie went to +fetch the instruments. Each man took the instrument he liked, and all +three together began to play a tune. The ladies, who knew the words of +a merry song that suited the air, joined the concert with their +voices; but the words of the song made them now and then stop, and +fall into excessive laughter. While their amusement was at its height, +there was a knock of unwonted loudness at their gate.</p> + +<p>Now, it was the custom of the sultan Haroun al Raschid sometimes +during the night to go through the city in disguise, in order to +discover whether everything was quiet. On this evening he set out from +his palace accompanied by Giafar, his grand vizier, and Mesrour, chief +of the household, all three disguised as merchants. He it was, who, in +passing through the street, was attracted by the noise of the music +and of the peals of loud laughter, and had desired his grand vizier to +knock at the gate, and to demand shelter and admittance as for three +strangers who knew not where to seek shelter for the night. Safie, who +had opened the door, came back and obtained permission of her sisters +to admit the newly arrived strangers.</p> + +<p>The caliph and his attendants, upon their entrance, most courteously +made obeisance to the ladies and to the calenders. The ladies returned +their salutations, supposing them to be merchants. Zobeide, as the +chief, addressed them with a grave and serious countenance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> and said, +"You are welcome. But while you are here you must have eyes but no +tongues; you must not ask the reason of anything you may see, nor +speak of anything that does not concern you, lest you hear and see +what will by no means please you."</p> + +<p>"Madam," replied the vizier, "you shall be obeyed. It is enough for us +to attend to our own business, without meddling with what does not +concern us." After this, each seated himself, and the conversation +became general, and they drank to the health of the new guests.</p> + +<p>While the vizier Giafar entertained them, the caliph ceased not from +admiring the beauty, elegance, and lively disposition of the ladies; +while the appearance of the three calenders, all blind of the right +eye, surprised him very much. He anxiously wished to learn the cause +of this singularity, but the conditions they had imposed upon him and +his companions prevented any inquiry. Besides all this, when he +reflected upon the richness of the services and furniture, with the +regularity and arrangement everywhere apparent, he could hardly +persuade himself it was not the effect of enchantment.</p> + +<p>The guests continued their conversation, when, after an interval, +Zobeide rose up, and taking Amina by the hand, said to her, "Come, +sister, the company shall not prevent us from doing as we have always +been accustomed."</p> + +<p>Amina, who perfectly understood what her sister meant, got up, and +took away the dishes, tables, bottles, glasses, and also the +instruments on which the calenders had played. Nor did Safie remain +idle; she snuffed the candles, and added more aloewood and ambergris. +Having done this, she requested the three calenders to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> sit on a sofa +on one side, and the caliph and his company on the other.</p> + +<p>"Get up," said she then to the porter, looking at him, "and be ready +to assist in whatever we want of you."</p> + +<p>A little while after, Amina came in with a sort of seat, which she +placed in the middle of the room. She then went to the door of a +closet, and having opened it, she made a sign to the porter to +approach.</p> + +<p>"Come and assist me," she cried. He did so, and went in with her, and +returned a moment after, followed by two black dogs, each of them +secured by a collar and chain. They appeared as if they had been +severely whipped with rods, and he brought them into the middle of the +apartment.</p> + +<p>Zobeide, rising from her seat between the calenders and the caliph, +moved very gravely toward the porter.</p> + +<p>"Come," said she, heaving a deep sigh, "let us perform our duty."</p> + +<p>She then tucked up her sleeves above her elbows, and receiving a rod +from Safie, "Porter," said she, "deliver one of the dogs to my sister +Amina, and bring the other to me."</p> + +<p>The porter did as he was commanded. Upon this, the dog that he held in +his hand began to howl, and, turning toward Zobeide, held her head up +in a supplicating posture; but Zobeide, having no regard to the sad +countenance of the animal, which would have moved any one else to +pity, nor to its cries that resounded through the house, whipped her +with the rod till she was out of breath; and having spent her +strength, threw down the rod, and taking the chain from the porter, +lifted up the dog by her paws, and looking upon her with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> a sad and +pitiful countenance, they both wept. After this Zobeide, with her +handkerchief, wiped the tears from the dog's eyes, kissed her, +returned the chain to the porter, and desired him to carry the dog to +the place whence he took her, and to bring the other. Then taking the +whip, she served this in the same manner; she then wept with it, dried +its tears, kissed it, and returned it to the porter.</p> + +<p>The three calenders, with the caliph and his companions, were +extremely surprised at this exhibition, and could not comprehend why +Zobeide, after having so furiously beaten those two dogs, that by the +Mussulman religion are reckoned unclean<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> animals, should weep with +them, wipe off their tears, and kiss them. They muttered among +themselves; and the caliph, who, being more impatient than the rest, +longed exceedingly to be informed of the cause of so strange a +proceeding, could not forbear making signs to the vizier to ask the +question. The vizier turned his head another way; but being pressed by +repeated signs, he answered by others, that it was not yet time for +the caliph to satisfy his curiosity.</p> + +<p>Zobeide sat still some time in the middle of the room, where she had +whipped the two dogs, to recover herself of her fatigue; and Safie +called to her, "Dear sister, will you not be pleased to return to your +place, that I may also act my part?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sister," replied Zobeide, and then went and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>sat down upon the +sofa, having the caliph, Giafar, and Mesrour on her right hand, and +the three calenders, with the porter, on her left.</p> + +<p>The whole company remained silent for some time. At last Safie, +sitting on a chair in the middle of the room, spoke to her sister +Amina: "Dear sister, I conjure you to rise; you know what I would +say." Amina rose, and went into another closet near to that where the +dogs were, and brought out a case covered with yellow satin, richly +embroidered with gold and green silk. She went toward Safie and opened +the case, from whence she took a lute, and presented it to her; and +after some time spent in tuning it, Safie began to play, and, +accompanying the instrument with her voice, sang a song about the +torments that absence creates to lovers.</p> + +<p>Having sung with much passion and action, she said to Amina, "Pray +take it, sister, for my voice fails me; oblige the company with a tune +and a song in my stead."</p> + +<p>"Very willingly," replied Amina, who, taking the lute from her sister +Safie, sat down in her place. Having sung most delightfully, the +caliph expressed his admiration. While he was doing so, Amina fainted +away; and on opening her robe to give her air, they discovered that +her breast was covered with fearful scars.</p> + +<p>While Zobeide and Safie ran to assist their sister, the caliph +inquired of the calender, "Cannot you inform me about these two black +dogs, and this lady, who appears to have been so ill-treated?"</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the calender, "we never were in this house before now, and +entered it only a few minutes sooner than you did."</p> + +<p>This increased the astonishment of the caliph.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> "Perhaps," said he, +"the man who is with you can give you some information?"</p> + +<p>The calender made signs to the porter to draw near, and asked him if +he knew why the black dogs had been beaten, and why the bosom of Amina +was so scarred.</p> + +<p>"Sir," replied the porter, "if you know nothing of the matter, I know +as little as you do. I never was in the house until now; and if you +are surprised to see me here, I am as much so to find myself in your +company."</p> + +<p>The caliph, more and more perplexed at all he heard, determined that +he would have the information he required for the explaining these +mysterious proceedings. But the question was, who should first make +the inquiry? The caliph endeavored to persuade the calenders to speak +first, but they excused themselves. At last they all agreed that the +porter should be the man.</p> + +<p>While they were consulting how to put the question, Zobeide herself, +as Amina had recovered from her fainting, approached them, and +inquired, "What are you talking of? What is your contest about?"</p> + +<p>The porter then addressed her as follows: "These gentlemen, madam, +entreat you to explain why you wept with those dogs, after having +treated them so ill, and how it has happened that the lady who fainted +has her bosom covered with scars."</p> + +<p>At these words Zobeide put on a stern look, and turning toward the +caliph and the rest of the company: "Is it true, gentlemen," said she, +"that you desired him to ask me these questions?"</p> + +<p>All of them, except the vizier Giafar, who spoke not a word, answered +"Yes." She thereupon exclaimed, in a tone of resentment: "Before we +granted you the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> favor of receiving you into our house, and to prevent +all occasion of inquiry from you, we imposed the condition that you +should not speak of anything that did not concern you, lest you might +hear that which would not please you; and yet, after having received +our entertainment, you make no scruple to break your promise. Our easy +compliance with your wishes may have occasioned this, but that shall +not excuse your rudeness."</p> + +<p>As she spoke these words, she gave three stamps with her foot, and +clapping<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> her hands as often together, cried, "Come quickly!"</p> + +<p>Upon this a door flew open, and seven black slaves<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> rushed in; each +one seized a man, threw him to the ground, and dragged him into the +middle of the room, brandishing a scimitar over his head.</p> + +<p>We can easily conceive the alarm of the caliph. He repented, but too +late, that he had not taken the advice of his vizier, who, with +Mesrour, the calenders, and porter, were, from his ill-timed +curiosity, on the point of forfeiting their lives.</p> + +<p>Before they gave the fatal stroke, one of the slaves said to Zobeide +and her sisters, "Would it not be right to interrogate them first?" On +which Zobeide, with a grave voice, said: "Answer me, and say who you +are, otherwise you shall not live one moment longer. I cannot believe +you to be honest men, or persons of authority or distinction in your +own countries; for, if you were, you would have been more modest and +more respectful to us."</p> + +<p>The caliph, naturally warm, was infinitely more <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>indignant than the +rest, to find his life depending upon the command of a woman: but he +began to conceive some hopes, when he found she wished to know who +they all were; for he imagined that she would by no means take away +his life when she should be informed of his rank. He whispered to his +vizier, who was near him, instantly to declare who he was. But this +wise vizier, being more prudent, resolved to save his master's honor, +and not let the world know the affront he had brought upon himself by +his own imprudence; and therefore answered, "We have what we deserve."</p> + +<p>But if he had intended to speak as the caliph commanded him, Zobeide +would not have allowed him time: for having turned to the calenders, +and seeing them all blind with one eye, she asked if they were +brothers.</p> + +<p>One of them answered, "No, madam, no otherwise than as we are +calenders; that is to say, as we observe the same rules."</p> + +<p>"Were you born blind of the right eye?" continued she.</p> + +<p>"No, madam," answered he; "I lost my eye in such a surprising +adventure, that it would be instructive to every one to hear it."</p> + +<p>Zobeide put the same question to the others in their turn, when the +last she addressed replied, "Pray, madam, show some pity on us, for we +are all the sons of kings. Although we have never seen each other +before this evening, we have had sufficient time to become acquainted +with this circumstance; and I can assure you that the kings who have +given us birth have made some noise in the world!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> During this speech +Zobeide became less angry, and said to the slaves, "Give them their +liberty a while, but remain where you are. Those who tell us their +history, and the occasion of their coming, do them not hurt, let them +go where they please; but do not spare those who refuse to give us +that satisfaction."</p> + +<p>The three calenders, the caliph, the grand vizier Giafar, the captain +of his guards, and the porter were all in the middle of the hall, +seated upon a carpet in the presence of the three ladies, who reclined +upon a sofa, and the slaves stood ready to do whatever their +mistresses should command.</p> + +<p>The porter spoke first, and briefly related the adventures of the +morning with Amina, and the kind favors to him of herself and her fair +sisters in the evening, which he declared to be the whole of his +history.</p> + +<p>When the porter had concluded, Zobeide said, "Save thyself and begone, +nor ever let us see thee again."</p> + +<p>"I beg of you, madam," replied he, "to let me remain a little longer. +It would be unfair that I should not hear their histories, after they +have had the pleasure of hearing mine."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he took his place at the end of the sofa, truly delighted +at finding himself free from the danger which so much alarmed him.</p> + +<p>One of the calenders, addressing himself to Zobeide, next spoke.</p> + + +<h3>THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST CALENDER</h3> +<p>Madam, I am the son of a sultan. My father had a brother, who reigned +over a neighboring kingdom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> His son, my cousin, and I were nearly of +the same age. I went regularly every year to see my uncle, at whose +court I amused myself for a month or two, and then returned home.</p> + +<p>On one occasion I arrived at my father's capital, where, contrary to +custom, I found a numerous guard at the gate of the palace. They +surrounded me as I entered. The commanding officer said, "Prince, the +army has proclaimed the grand vizier sultan, instead of your father, +who is dead, and I take you prisoner in the name of the new sultan."</p> + +<p>This rebel vizier had long entertained a mortal hatred toward me. When +I was a boy I loved to shoot with a crossbow. Being one day upon the +terrace of the palace, and a bird happening to come by, I shot but +missed him, and the ball by misfortune hit the vizier, who was taking +the air upon the terrace of his own house, and put out one of his +eyes. He never forgave me, and, as opportunity offered, made me +sensible of his resentment. But now that he had me in his power he +came to me like a madman, and thrusting his finger into my right eye, +pulled it out, and thus I became blind of one eye.</p> + +<p>His cruelty did not stop here; he commanded the executioner to cut off +my head, and leave me to be devoured by birds of prey. The executioner +conveyed me to the place of execution to complete this barbarous +sentence, but by my prayers and tears, I moved the man's compassion: +"Go," said he to me, "get you speedily out of the kingdom, and never +return, or you will destroy yourself and me."</p> + +<p>I thanked him, and as soon as I was left alone,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> comforted myself for +the loss of my eye by considering that I had very narrowly escaped a +much greater evil.</p> + +<p>Being thus surrounded with sorrows and persecuted by fortune, I had +recourse to a stratagem, which was the only means left me to save my +life: I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and putting on a +calender's habit, I passed, unknown by any, out of the city. I avoided +the towns till I arrived in the empire of the commander of the +faithful, the renowned caliph Haroun al Raschid, when I ceased to +fear. I resolved to come to Bagdad and throw myself at the feet of +this great monarch. I shall move him to compassion, said I to myself, +by the relation of my uncommon misfortunes, and without doubt he will +take pity on a persecuted prince, and not suffer me to implore his +assistance in vain.</p> + +<p>In short, after a journey of several months, I arrived to-day at the +gate of this city, into which I entered at dusk: and as I entered, +another calender came up. He saluted me, and I him.</p> + +<p>"You appear," said I, "to be a stranger, as I am."</p> + +<p>"You are not mistaken," replied he.</p> + +<p>He had no sooner returned this answer, than a third calender overtook +us. He saluted us, and told us he was a stranger newly come to Bagdad; +so that as brethren we joined together, resolving not to separate from +one another.</p> + +<p>It was now late, and we knew not where to seek a lodging in the city, +where we had never been before. But good fortune having brought us to +your gate, we made bold to knock, when you received us with so much +kindness that we are incapable of rendering suitable thanks. This, +madam, is, in obedience to your commands, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> account I was to give +how I lost my right eye, wherefore my beard and eyebrows are shaved, +and how I came to be with you at this time.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"It is enough," said Zobeide; "you may retire to what place you think +fit."</p> + +<p>The calender begged the ladies' permission to stay till he had heard +the relations of his two comrades, "whom I cannot," said he, "leave +with honor"; and that he might also hear those of the three other +persons in company.</p> + +<p>The history of the first calender appeared very surprising to the +whole company, and particularly to the caliph. The presence of the +slaves, armed with their scimitars, did not prevent him from saying in +a whisper to the vizier, "As long as I can remember, I never heard +anything to compare with this history of the calender, though I have +been all my life in the habit of hearing similar narratives."</p> + +<p>He had no sooner finished than the second calender began, and +addressing himself to Zobeide, spoke as follows:</p> + + +<h3>THE HISTORY OF THE SECOND CALENDER</h3> +<p>Madam, to obey your commands, and to show you by what strange accident +I became blind of the right eye, I must give you the account of my +life. I was yet a youth when the sultan, my father (for you must know +I am a prince by birth), perceived that I was endowed with good +natural ability, and spared nothing proper for improving it. No sooner +was I able to read and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> write than I learned the Koran from beginning +to end by heart, all the traditions collected from the mouth of our +prophet, and the works of poets. I applied myself to geography, +chronology, and to speak the Arabian language in its purity; not +forgetting in the meantime all such exercises as were proper for a +prince to understand. But one thing which I was fond of, and succeeded +in, was penmanship. In this I surpassed all the celebrated scribes of +our kingdom.</p> + +<p>The fame of my learning reached the Emperor of Hindustan, who sent an +embassy with rich presents to my father and invited me to his court. I +returned with the ambassador.</p> + +<p>We had been about a month on our journey when we saw in the distance +an immense cloud of dust, and soon after we discovered fifty fierce +horsemen, sons of the desert, well armed.</p> + +<p>Not being able to repel force by force, we told them we were the +ambassadors of the sultan of India; but the sons of the desert +insolently answered, "Why do you wish us to respect the sultan, your +master? We are not his subjects, nor even within his realm." They +attacked us on all sides.</p> + +<p>I defended myself as long as I could, but finding that I was wounded, +and that the ambassador and all our attendants were overthrown, I took +advantage of the remaining strength of my horse, and escaped. My horse +was wounded and suddenly fell dead under me. Alone, wounded, and a +stranger, I bound up my own wound and walked on the rest of the day, +and arrived at the foot of a mountain, where I perceived, as the sun +set, a cave; I went in, and stayed there that night,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> after I had +eaten some fruits that I gathered by the way. I continued my journey +for several successive days without finding any place of abode; but +after a month's time I came to a large town, well inhabited. It was +surrounded by several streams, so that it seemed to enjoy perpetual +spring.</p> + +<p>My face, hands, and feet were black and sunburnt; and by my long +journey, my boots were quite worn out, so that I was forced to walk +barefooted; and my clothes were all in rags. I entered the town to +inform myself where I was, and addressed myself to a tailor that was +at work in his shop. He made me sit down by him, and asked me who I +was, from whence I came, and what had brought me thither. I did not +conceal anything that had befallen me, nor made I any scruple to +reveal to him my rank. The tailor listened to me with attention; then +he brought me something to eat, and offered me an apartment at his +house, which I accepted.</p> + +<p>Some days after my arrival the tailor asked me if I knew anything by +which I could acquire a livelihood. I told him that I was well versed +in the science of laws, both human and divine; that I was a +grammarian, a poet, and, above all, that I wrote remarkably well.</p> + +<p>"None of these things will avail you here. If you will follow my +advice," he added, "you will procure a short jacket, and as you are +strong and in good health, you may go into the neighboring forest and +cut wood for fuel. You may then go and expose it for sale in the +market. By these means you will be enabled to wait till the cloud +which hangs over you, and obliges you to conceal your birth, shall +have blown over. I will furnish you with a cord and hatchet."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next day the tailor brought me a rope, a hatchet, and a short +jacket, and recommended me to some poor people who gained their bread +after the same manner, that they might take me into their company. +They conducted me to the wood, and the first day I brought in as much +upon my head as procured me half a piece of gold of the money of that +country; for though the wood was not far distant from the town, yet it +was very scarce, by reason that few would be at the trouble of +fetching it for themselves. I gained a good sum of money in a short +time, and repaid my tailor what he had loaned me.</p> + +<p>I continued this way of living for a whole year. One day, having by +chance penetrated farther into the wood than usual, I happened to +light on a pleasant spot, where I began to cut. In pulling up the root +of a tree I espied an iron ring, fastened to a trap door of the same +metal. I took away the earth that covered it, and having lifted it up, +discovered a flight of stairs, which I descended with my ax in my +hand.</p> + +<p>When I had reached the bottom I found myself in a palace, which was as +well lighted as if it had been above ground in the open air. I was +going forward along a gallery supported by pillars of jasper, the base +and capitals being of massy gold, when I saw a lady of a noble and +graceful air, and extremely beautiful, coming toward me.</p> + +<p>I hastened to meet her; and as I was making a low obeisance she asked +me, "Are you a man, or a genie?"</p> + +<p>"A man, madam," said I.</p> + +<p>"By what adventure," said she, fetching a deep sigh, "are you come +hither? I have lived here for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> twenty-five years, and you are the +first man I have beheld in that time."</p> + +<p>Her great beauty, and the sweetness and civility wherewith she +received me, emboldened me to say, "Madam, before I satisfy your +curiosity, give me leave to say that I am infinitely gratified with +this unexpected meeting, which offers me an occasion of consolation in +the midst of my affliction; and perhaps it may give me an opportunity +of making you also more happy than you are."</p> + +<p>I then related my story to her from beginning to end.</p> + +<p>"Alas! prince," she replied, sighing, "the most enchanting spots +cannot afford delight when we are there against our will. But hear now +my history. I am a princess, the daughter of a sultan, the king of the +Ebony Island, to which the precious wood found in it has given its +name.</p> + +<p>"The king, my father, had chosen for my husband a prince, who was my +cousin; but on the very night of the bridal festivities, in the midst +of the rejoicings of the court, a genie took me away. I fainted with +alarm, and when I recovered I found myself in this place. I was long +inconsolable; but time and necessity have reconciled me to see the +genie. Twenty-five years I have passed in this place, in which I have +everything necessary for life and splendor.</p> + +<p>"Every ten days," continued the princess, "the genie visits me. In the +meantime, if I have any occasion for him, I have only to touch a +talisman, and he appears. It is now four days since he was here, and I +have therefore to wait six days more before he again makes his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +appearance. You, therefore, may remain five with me, if it be +agreeable to you, in order to keep me company; and I will endeavor to +regale and entertain you equal to your merit and dignity."</p> + +<p>The princess then conducted me to a bath, the most commodious, and the +most sumptuous imaginable; and when I came forth, instead of my own +clothes I found a costly robe, which I did not esteem so much for its +richness as because it made me appear worthy to be in her company. We +sat down on a sofa covered with rich tapestry, with cushions of the +rarest Indian brocade; and some time after she covered a table with +several dishes of delicate meats. We ate, and passed the remaining +part of the day, as also the evening, together very pleasantly.</p> + +<p>The next day I said to her, "Fair princess, you have been too long +buried alive in this subterranean palace; pray rise—follow me and +enjoy the light of day, of which you have been deprived so many +years."</p> + +<p>"Prince," replied she, with a smile, "if you out of ten days will +grant me nine, and resign the tenth to the genie, the light of day +would be nothing to me."</p> + +<p>"Princess," said I, "the fear of the genie makes you speak thus. For +my part, I regard him so little that I will break in pieces his +talisman, with the spell that is written about it. Let him come; and +how brave or powerful he be, I will defy him." On saying this I gave +the talisman a kick with my foot, and broke it in pieces.</p> + +<p>The talisman was no sooner broken than the whole palace shook as if +ready to fall to atoms, and the walls opened to afford a passage to +the genie. I had no sooner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> felt the shock than, at the earnest +request of the princess, I took to flight. Having hastily put on my +own robe, I ascended the stairs leading to the forest, and reached the +town in safety. My landlord, the tailor, was very glad to see me.</p> + +<p>In my haste, however, I had left my hatchet and cord in the princess's +chamber.</p> + +<p>Shortly after my return, while brooding over this loss and lamenting +the cruel treatment to which the princess would be exposed, the tailor +came in and said, "An old man, whom I do not know, brings your hatchet +and cords, and wishes to speak to you, for he will deliver them to +none but yourself."</p> + +<p>At these words I changed color, and fell a-trembling. While the tailor +was asking me the reason, my chamber door opened, and the old man, +having no patience to stay, appeared with my hatchet and cords.</p> + +<p>"I am a genie," said he, speaking to me, "a grandson of Eblis,<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +prince of genies. Is not this your hatchet and are not these your +cords?"</p> + +<p>After the genie had put these questions to me he gave me no time to +answer. He grasped me by the middle, dragged me out of the chamber, +and mounting into the air carried me up to the skies with +extraordinary swiftness. He descended again in like manner to the +earth, which on a sudden he caused to open with a stroke of his foot, +when I found myself in the enchanted palace, before the fair princess +of the Isle of Ebony. But, alas! what a spectacle was there! I saw +what pierced me to the heart; this poor princess was weltering in her +blood, and lay <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>upon the ground, more like one dead than alive, with +her cheeks bathed in tears.</p> + +<p>The genie, having loaded us both with many insults and reproaches, +drew his scimitar and declared that he would give life and liberty to +either of us who would with his scimitar cut off the head of the +other. We both resolutely declined to purchase freedom at such a +price, and asserted our choice to be to die rather in the presence of +each other.</p> + +<p>"I see," said the genie, "that you both outbrave me, but both of you +shall know by my treatment of you of what I am capable."</p> + +<p>At these words the monster took up the scimitar and cut off one of her +hands, which left her only so much life as to give me a token with the +other that she bade me forever adieu; and then she died.</p> + +<p>I fainted at the sight.</p> + +<p>When I was come to myself again, I cried, "Strike, for I am ready to +die, and await death as the greatest favor you can show me."</p> + +<p>But instead of killing me, he said, "Behold how genies revenge +themselves on those who offend them. Thou art the least to blame, and +I will content myself with transforming thee into a dog, ape, lion, or +bird; take thy choice of any of these. I will leave it to thyself."</p> + +<p>These words gave me some hopes of being able to appease him.</p> + +<p>"O genie," said I, "restrain your rage, and since you will not take +away my life, pardon me freely, as a good dervish pardoned one who +envied him."</p> + +<p>"And how was that?" said he.</p> + +<p>I answered as follows:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THE HISTORY OF THE ENVIOUS MAN AND OF HIM WHO WAS ENVIED</h3> +<p>In a certain town there were two men, neighbors, who lived next door +to each other. One of them was so excessively envious of the other +that the latter resolved to change his abode and go and reside at some +distance from him. He therefore sold his house, and went to another +city at no great distance, and bought a convenient house. It had a +good garden and a moderate court, in which there was a deep well that +was not now used.</p> + +<p>The good man, having made this purchase, put on the habit of a +dervish, and in a short time he established a numerous society of +dervishes.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> He soon came to be known by his virtues, through which +he acquired the esteem of many people, as well of the commonalty as of +the chief of the city. In short, he was much honored and courted by +all ranks. People came from afar to recommend themselves to his +prayers; and all who visited him, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>published what blessings they +received through his means.</p> + +<p>The great reputation of this honest man having spread to the town from +whence he had come, it touched the envious man so much to the quick +that he left his own house and affairs with a resolution to ruin him. +With this intent he went to the new convent of dervishes, of which his +former neighbor was the head, who received him with all imaginable +tokens of friendship. The envious man told him that he was come to +communicate a business of importance, which he could not do but in +private; "and that nobody may hear us," he said, "let us take a walk +in your court; and seeing night begins to draw on, command your +dervishes to retire to their cells." The chief of the dervishes did as +he was requested.</p> + +<p>When the envious man saw that he was alone with this good man, he +began to tell him his errand, walking side by side in the court, till +he saw his opportunity; and getting the good man near the brink of the +well, he gave him a thrust, and pushed him into it.</p> + +<p>This old well was inhabited by peris<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> and genies, which happened +luckily for the relief of the head of the convent; for they received +and supported him, and carried him to the bottom, so that he got no +hurt. He perceived that there was something extraordinary in his fall, +which must otherwise have cost him his life; but he neither saw nor +felt anything.</p> + +<p>He soon heard a voice, however, which said, "Do you know what honest +man this is, to whom we have done this service?"</p> + +<p>Another voice answered, "No." To which the first <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>replied, "Then I +will tell you. This man, out of charity, left the town he lived in, +and has established himself in this place, in hopes to cure one of his +neighbors of the envy he had conceived against him; he had acquired +such a general esteem that the envious man, not able to endure it, +came hither on purpose to ruin him; and he would have accomplished his +design had it not been for the assistance we have given this honest +man, whose reputation is so great that the sultan, who keeps his +residence in the neighboring city, was to pay him a visit to-morrow, +to recommend the princess his daughter to his prayers."</p> + +<p>Another voice asked, "What need had the princess of the dervish's +prayers?" To which the first answered, "You do not know, it seems, +that she is possessed by a genie. But I well know how this good +dervish may cure her. He has a black cat in his convent, with a white +spot at the end of her tail, about the bigness of a small piece of +Arabian money; let him only pull seven hairs out of the white spot, +burn them, and smoke the princess's head with the fumes. She will not +only be immediately cured, but be so safely delivered from the genie +that he will never dare approach her again."</p> + +<p>The head of the dervishes remembered every word of the conversation +between the fairies and the genies, who remained silent the remainder +of the night. The next morning, as soon as daylight appeared, and he +could discern the nature of his situation, the well being broken down +in several places, he saw a hole, by which he crept out with ease.</p> + +<p>The other dervishes, who had been seeking for him, were rejoiced to +see him. He gave them a brief account<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> of the wickedness of the man to +whom he had given so kind a reception the day before, and retired into +his cell. Shortly after, the black cat, which the fairies and genies +had mentioned the night before, came to fawn upon her master, as she +was accustomed to do; he took her up, and pulled seven hairs from the +white spot that was upon her tail, and laid them aside for his use +when occasion should serve.</p> + +<p>Soon after sunrise the sultan, who would leave no means untried that +he thought likely to restore the princess to perfect health, arrived +at the gate of the convent. He commanded his guards to halt, while he +with his principal officers went in. The dervishes received him with +profound respect.</p> + +<p>The sultan called their chief aside, and said, "Good Sheik,<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> you +may probably be already acquainted with the cause of my visit."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied he gravely, "if I do not mistake, it is the +disease of the princess which procures me this unmerited honor."</p> + +<p>"That is the real case," replied the sultan. "You will give me new +life if your prayers, as I hope they may, restore my daughter's +health."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the good man, "if your majesty will be pleased to let her +come hither, I am in hopes, through God's assistance, that she will be +effectually cured."</p> + +<p>The prince, transported with joy, sent immediately for his daughter, +who soon appeared with a numerous train of ladies and attendants, +veiled, so that her face was not seen. The chief of the dervishes +caused a carpet <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>to be held over her head, and he had no sooner thrown +the seven hairs upon the burning coals than the genie uttered a great +cry and, without being seen, left the princess at liberty; upon which +she took the veil from her face, and rose up to see where she was, +saying, "Where am I, and who brought me hither?"</p> + +<p>At these words, the sultan, overcome with excess of joy, embraced his +daughter and kissed her eyes; he also kissed the sheik's hands, and +said to his officers, "What reward does he deserve that has thus cured +my daughter?"</p> + +<p>They all cried, "He deserves her in marriage."</p> + +<p>"That is what I had in my thoughts," said the sultan; "and I make him +my son-in-law from this moment."</p> + +<p>Some time after, the prime vizier died, and the sultan conferred the +office on the dervish. Then the sultan himself died, without heirs +male; upon which the religious orders and the army consulted together, +and the good man was declared and acknowledged sultan by general +consent.</p> + +<p>The honest dervish ascended the throne of his father-in-law. One day +as he was in the midst of his courtiers on a march, he espied the +envious man among the crowd that stood as he passed along. Calling one +of the viziers that attended him, he whispered in his ear, "Go bring +me that man you see there; but take care you do not frighten him."</p> + +<p>The vizier obeyed, and when the envious man was brought into his +presence the sultan said, "Friend, I am extremely glad to see you."</p> + +<p>Then he called an officer. "Go immediately," said he, "and cause to be +paid to this man out of my treasury,<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>one hundred pieces of gold. +Let him have also twenty loads of the richest merchandise in my +storehouses, and a sufficient guard to conduct him to his house."</p> + +<p>After he had given this charge to the officer he bade the envious man +farewell, and proceeded on his march.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When I had finished the recital of this story to the genie I employed +all my eloquence to persuade him to imitate so good an example, and to +grant me pardon; but it was impossible to move his compassion.</p> + +<p>"All that I can do for thee," said he, "is to grant thee thy life, but +I must place thee under enchantments." So saying, he seized me +violently, and carried me through the arched roof of the subterranean +palace, which opened to give him passage. He ascended with me into the +air to such a height that the earth appeared like a little white +cloud. He then descended again like lightning, and alighted upon the +summit of a mountain.</p> + +<p>Here he took up a handful of earth, and, muttering some words which I +did not understand, threw it upon me. "Quit," said he, "the form of a +man, and take that of an ape."</p> + +<p>He instantly disappeared, and left me alone, transformed into an ape, +and overwhelmed with sorrow, in a strange country, not knowing whether +I was near or far from my father's dominions.</p> + +<p>I descended the mountain, and entered a plain, level country, which +took me a month to travel over, and then I came to the seaside. It +happened at the time to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>be perfectly calm, and I espied a vessel +about half a league from the shore. Unwilling to lose so good an +opportunity, I broke off a large branch from a tree, carried it into +the sea, and placed myself astride upon it, with a stick in each hand, +to serve me for oars.</p> + +<p>I launched out on this frail bark, and rowed toward the ship. When I +had approached sufficiently near to be seen, the seamen and passengers +on the deck regarded me with astonishment. In the meantime I got on +board, and laying hold of a rope, jumped upon the deck, but having +lost my speech, I found myself in great perplexity. And indeed the +risk I ran was not less than when I was at the mercy of the genie.</p> + +<p>The merchants, being both superstitious and scrupulous, thought if +they received me on board I should be the occasion of some misfortune +to them during their voyage. On this account they said, "Let us throw +him into the sea." Some one of them would not have failed to carry +this threat into execution had I not gone to the captain, thrown +myself at his feet, and taken hold of his skirt in a supplicating +posture. This action, together with the tears which he saw gush from +my eyes, moved his compassion. He took me under his protection, and +loaded me with a thousand caresses. On my part, though I had not power +to speak, I showed by my gestures every mark of gratitude in my power.</p> + +<p>The wind that succeeded the calm continued to blow in the same +direction for fifty days, and brought us safe to the port of a city, +well peopled, and of great trade, where we cast anchor.</p> + +<p>Our vessel was instantly surrounded with multitudes of boats full of +people. Among the rest, some officers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> of the sultan came on board, +and said "Our master rejoices in your safe arrival, and he beseeches +each of you to write a few lines upon this roll. The prime vizier, +who, besides possessing great abilities for the management of public +affairs, could write in the highest perfection, died a few days since, +and the sultan has made a solemn vow not to give the place to any one +who cannot write equally well. No one in the empire has been judged +worthy to supply the vizier's place."</p> + +<p>Those of the merchants who thought they could write well enough to +aspire to this high dignity wrote one after another what they thought +fit. After they had done, I advanced, and took the roll, but all the +people cried out that I would tear it or throw it into the sea, till +they saw how properly I held the roll, and made a sign that I would +write in my turn. Their apprehensions then changed into wonder. +However, as they had never seen an ape that could write, and could not +be persuaded that I was more ingenious than others of my kind, they +wished to take the roll out of my hand; but the captain took my part +once more.</p> + +<p>"Let him alone," said he; "allow him to write."</p> + +<p>Perceiving that no one opposed my design, I took the pen, and wrote +six sorts of hands used among the Arabians, and each specimen +contained an extemporary distich or quatrain (a stanza of four lines) +in praise of the sultan. When I had done, the officers took the roll, +and carried it to the sultan.</p> + +<p>The sultan took little notice of any of the writings except mine, +which pleased him so much that he said to the officers, "Take the +finest horse in my stable, with the richest trappings, and a robe of +the most sumptuous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> brocade to put on the person who wrote the six +hands, and bring him hither."</p> + +<p>At this command the officers could not forbear laughing. The sultan +was incensed at their rudeness, and would have punished them, had they +not explained.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said they, "we humbly beg your majesty's pardon. These hands +were not written by a man, but by an ape."</p> + +<p>"What do you say?" exclaimed the sultan. "Those admirable characters, +are they not written by the hands of a man?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," replied the officers; "we assure your majesty that it was +an ape, who wrote them in our presence."</p> + +<p>The sultan was too much surprised at this account not to desire a +sight of me, and therefore said, "Do what I command you, and bring me +speedily that wonderful ape."</p> + +<p>The officers returned to the vessel, and showed the captain their +order, who answered, "The sultan's command must be obeyed." Whereupon +they clothed me with the rich brocade robe, and carried me ashore, +where they set me on horseback, while the sultan waited for me at his +palace with a great number of courtiers.</p> + +<p>The procession commenced; the harbor, the streets, the public places, +windows, terraces, palaces, and houses were filled with an infinite +number of people of all ranks, who flocked from every part of the city +to see me; for the rumor was spread in a moment that the sultan had +chosen an ape to be his grand vizier; and after having served for a +spectacle to the people, who could not forbear to express their +surprise by redoubling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> their shouts and cries, I arrived at the +sultan's palace.</p> + +<p>I found the prince on his throne in the midst of the grandees; I made +my obeisance three times very low, and at last kneeled and kissed the +ground before him, and afterward took my seat in the posture of an +ape. The whole assembly viewed me with admiration, and could not +comprehend how it was possible that an ape should so well understand +how to pay the sultan his due respect; and he himself was more +astonished than any. In short, the usual ceremony of the audience +would have been complete, could I have added speech to my behavior.</p> + +<p>The sultan dismissed his courtiers, and none remained by him but the +chief of the attendants of the palace, a little young slave, and +myself. He went from his chamber of audience into his own apartment, +where he ordered dinner to be brought. As he sat at table, he made me +a sign to approach and eat with them. To show my obedience, I kissed +the ground, arose, and placed myself at the table, and ate.</p> + +<p>Before the table was cleared, I espied a standish, which I made a sign +to have brought me; having got it, I wrote upon a large peach some +verses expressive of my acknowledgment to the sultan; who, having read +them, after I had presented the peach to him, was still more +astonished. When the things were removed, they brought him a +particular liquor, of which he caused them to give me a glass. I +drank, and wrote upon the glass some new verses, which explained the +state of happiness I was now in, after many sufferings. The sultan +read these likewise, and said, "A man that was capable of composing +such poetry would rank among the greatest of men."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>The sultan caused to be brought to him a chessboard,<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> and asked me +by a sign if I understood that game, and would play with him. I kissed +the ground; and laying my hand upon my head, signified that I was +ready to receive that honor. He won the first game; but I won the +second and third; and perceiving he was somewhat displeased at my +success, I made a stanza to pacify him, in which I told him that two +potent armies had been fighting furiously all day, but that they +concluded a peace toward the evening, and passed the remaining part of +the night very amicably together upon the field of battle.</p> + +<p>So many circumstances appearing to the sultan beyond what had ever +either been seen or known of apes, he determined not to be the only +witness of these prodigies himself, but having a daughter, called the +Lady of Beauty, sent for her, that she should share his pleasure.</p> + +<p>The princess, who had her face unveiled, no sooner came into the room +than she put on her veil, and said to the sultan, "Sir, I am surprised +that you have sent for me to appear before a man. That seeming ape is +a young prince, son of a powerful sultan, and has been metamorphosed +into an ape by enchantment. When I was just out of the nursery, an old +lady who waited on me was a most expert magician, and taught me +seventy rules of magic. By this science I know all enchanted persons +at first sight: I know who they are, and by whom they have been +enchanted; therefore do not be surprised if I should forthwith restore +this prince, in spite of the enchantments, to his own form."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p><p>"Do so, then," interrupted the sultan, "for you cannot give me +greater pleasure, as I wish to have him for my grand vizier, and +bestow you upon him for a wife."</p> + +<p>"I am ready, sire," answered the princess, "to obey you in all things +you please to command."</p> + +<p>The princess, the Lady of Beauty, went into her apartment, and brought +thence a knife, which had some Hebrew words engraved on the blade: she +made the sultan, the little slave, and myself, descend into a private +court of the palace, and there left us under a gallery that went round +it. She placed herself in the middle of the court, where she made a +great circle, and within it she wrote several words in ancient Arabian +characters.</p> + +<p>When she had finished and prepared the circle, she placed herself in +the center of it, where she began incantations, and repeated verses of +the Koran. The air grew insensibly dark, as if it had been night; we +found ourselves struck with consternation, and our fear increased when +we saw the genie appear suddenly in the shape of a lion<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> of +gigantic size.</p> + +<p>"Thou shalt pay dearly," said the lion, "for the trouble thou hast +given me in coming here." In saying this, he opened his horrible jaws, +and advanced to devour her; but she, being on her guard, jumped back, +and had just time to pluck out a hair; and pronouncing two or three +words, she changed it into a sharp scythe, with which she immediately +cut the lion in two pieces, through the middle.</p> + +<p>The two parts of the lion directly disappeared, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>the head changed +into a large scorpion. The princess then took the form of a serpent, +and fought the scorpion, which, finding itself defeated, changed into +an eagle, and flew away. But the serpent then became another eagle, +black, and very large, and went in pursuit of it. We now lost sight of +them for some time.</p> + +<p>Shortly after they had disappeared, the earth opened before us, and a +black and white cat appeared, the hairs of which stood quite on end, +and which made a most horrible mewing. A black wolf directly followed +after her, and gave her no time to rest. The cat, being thus hard +pressed, changed into a worm, and hid itself in a pomegranate which +lay by accident on the ground; but the pomegranate swelled +immediately, and became as big as a gourd, which, lifting itself up to +the roof of the gallery, rolled there for some time backward and +forward; it then fell down again into the court, and broke into +several pieces.</p> + +<p>The wolf had in the meanwhile transformed itself into a cock, and now +fell to picking up the seeds of the pomegranate one after another; but +finding no more, he came toward us with his wings spread, making a +great noise, as if he would ask us whether there were any more seed. +There was one lying on the brink of the canal, which the cock +perceiving as he went back, ran speedily thither; but just as he was +going to pick it up the seed rolled into a fountain and turned into a +little fish.</p> + +<p>The cock, flying toward the fountain, turned into a pike, and pursued +the small fish; they both continued under water above two hours, and +we knew not what was become of them; but suddenly we heard terrible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +cries, which made us tremble, and a little while after we saw the +genie and princess all in flames. They threw ashes of fire out of +their mouths at each other, till they came to close combat; then the +two fires increased, with a thick, burning smoke, which mounted so +high that we had reason to apprehend it would set the palace on fire. +But we very soon had a more pressing occasion of fear, for the genie, +having got loose from the princess, came to the gallery where we +stood, and blew flames of fire upon us. We must all have perished had +not the princess, running to our assistance, forced him to retire, and +to defend himself against her; yet, notwithstanding all her exertions, +she could not hinder the sultan's beard from being burned, and his +face scorched, and a spark from entering my right eye, and making it +blind. The sultan and I expected nothing but death, when we heard a +cry of "Victory, victory!" and instantly the princess appeared in her +natural shape; but the genie was reduced to a heap of ashes.</p> + +<p>The princess approached us and hastily called for a cupful of water, +which the young slave, who had received no hurt, brought her. She took +it, and after pronouncing some words over it, threw it upon me, +saying, "If thou art become an ape by enchantment, change thy shape, +and take that of a man, which thou hadst before." These words were +hardly uttered when I again became a man in every respect as I was +before my transformation, excepting the loss of my eye.</p> + +<p>I was preparing to return the princess my thanks, but she prevented me +by addressing herself to her father: "Sire, I have gained the victory +over the genie; but it is a victory that costs me dear. I have but a +few minutes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> to live; the fire has pierced me during the terrible +combat, and I find it is gradually consuming me. This would not have +happened had I perceived the last of the pomegranate seeds, and +swallowed it, as I did the others when I was changed into a cock; the +genie had fled thither as to his last intrenchment, and upon that the +success of the combat depended. This oversight obliged me to have +recourse to fire, and to fight with those mighty arms as I did, +between heaven and earth, in your presence; for in spite of all, I +made the genie know that I understood more than he; I have conquered, +and reduced him to ashes, but I cannot escape death, which is +approaching."</p> + +<p>Suddenly the princess exclaimed, "I burn, I burn!" She found that the +fire had at last seized upon her vital parts, which made her still +cry, "I burn!" until death had put an end to her intolerable pain. The +effect of that fire was so extraordinary, that in a few moments she +was wholly reduced to ashes, as the genie had been.</p> + +<p>I cannot tell you, madam, how much I was grieved at so dismal a +spectacle; I had rather all my life have continued an ape or a dog, +than to have seen my benefactress thus miserably perish. The sultan +cried piteously, and beat himself on his head and breast, until, being +quite overcome with grief, he fainted away. In the meantime, the +attendants and officers came running at the sultan's lamentations, and +with much difficulty brought him to himself.</p> + +<p>When the knowledge of the death of the princess had spread through the +palace and the city, all the people greatly bewailed. Public mourning +was observed for seven days, and many ceremonies were performed. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +ashes of the genie were thrown into the air; but those of the princess +were collected into a precious urn, to be preserved; and the urn was +deposited in a superb mausoleum<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> constructed for that purpose on +the spot where the princess had been consumed.</p> + +<p>The grief of the sultan for the loss of his daughter confined him to +his chamber for a whole month. Before he had fully recovered his +strength, he sent for me and said, "You are the cause of all these +misfortunes; depart hence therefore in peace, without further delay, +and take care never again to appear in my dominions on penalty of thy +life."</p> + +<p>I was obliged to quit the palace, again cast down to a low estate, and +an outcast from the world. Before I left the city I went into a +bagnio, where I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and put on +a calender's robe. I passed through many countries without making +myself known; at last I resolved to visit Bagdad, in hopes of meeting +with the Commander of the Faithful, to move his compassion by relating +to him my unfortunate adventures. I arrived this evening; and the +first man I met was this calender, our brother, who spoke before me.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> +<p>You know the remaining part, madam, and the cause of my having the +honor to be here.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the second calender had concluded his story, Zobeide, to whom he +had addressed his speech, said, "It is well; you are at liberty": but +instead of departing he also petitioned the lady to show him the same +favor vouchsafed to the first calender, and went and sat down by him.</p> + +<p>Then the third calender, knowing it was his turn to speak, addressed +himself, like the others, to Zobeide, and began his history as +follows:</p> + + +<h3>THE HISTORY OF THE THIRD CALENDER</h3> +<p>My story, O honorable lady, differs from those you have already heard. +The two princes who have spoken before me have each lost an eye by +events beyond their own control; but I lost mine through my own fault.</p> + +<p>My name is Agib. I am the son of a sultan. After his death I took +possession of his dominions, and continued in the city where he had +resided. My kingdom is composed of several fine provinces upon the +mainland, besides a number of valuable islands. My first object was to +visit the provinces. I afterward caused my whole fleet to be fitted +out, and went to my islands to gain the hearts of my subjects by my +presence, and to confirm them in their loyalty. These voyages gave me +some taste for navigation, in which I took so much pleasure that I +resolved to make some discoveries beyond my own territories; to which +end I caused ten ships to be fitted out, embarked, and set sail.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>Our voyage was very pleasant for forty days successively; but on the +forty-first night the wind became contrary, and so boisterous that we +were nearly lost. I gave orders to steer back to my own coast; but I +perceived at the same time that my pilot knew not where we were. Upon +the tenth day a seaman, being sent to look out for land from the +masthead, gave notice that he could see nothing but sky and sea, but +that right ahead he perceived a great blackness.</p> + +<p>The pilot changed color at this account, and throwing his turban on +the deck with one hand, and beating his breast with the other, cried, +"O sir, we are all lost; not one of us can escape; and with all my +skill it is not in my power to effect our deliverance."</p> + +<p>I asked him what reason he had thus to despair.</p> + +<p>He exclaimed, "The tempest has brought us so far out of our course +that to-morrow about noon we shall be near the black mountain, or mine +of adamant, which at this very minute draws all your fleet toward it +by virtue of the iron in your ships; and when we approach within a +certain distance the attraction of the adamant will have such force +that all the nails will be drawn out of the sides and bottoms of the +ships, and fasten to the mountain, so that your vessels will fall to +pieces and sink. This mountain," continued the pilot, "is +inaccessible. On the summit there is a dome of fine brass, supported +by pillars of the same metal, and on the top of that dome stands a +horse, likewise of brass, with a rider on his back, who has a plate of +lead fixed to his breast, upon which some talismanic characters are +engraved. Sir, the tradition is, that this statue is the chief cause +why so many ships and men have been lost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> and sunk in this place, and +that it will ever continue to be fatal to all those who have the +misfortune to approach, until it shall be thrown down."</p> + +<p>The pilot having finished his discourse, began to weep afresh, and all +the rest of the ship's company did the same, and they took farewell of +each other.</p> + +<p>The next morning we distinctly perceived the black mountain. About +noon we were so near that we found what the pilot had foretold to be +true; for all the nails and iron in the ships flew toward the +mountain, where they fixed, by the violence of the attraction, with a +horrible noise; the ships split asunder, and their cargoes sank into +the sea.</p> + +<p>All my people were drowned, but God had mercy on me and permitted me +to save myself by means of a plank, which the wind drove ashore just +at the foot of the mountain. I did not receive the least hurt; and my +good fortune brought me to a landing place where there were steps that +led up to the summit of the mountain.</p> + +<p>At last I reached the top, without accident. I went into the dome, +and, kneeling on the ground, gave God thanks for His mercies.</p> + +<p>I passed the night under the dome. In my sleep an old grave man +appeared to me, and said, "Hearken, Agib; as soon as thou art awake +dig up the ground under thy feet: thou wilt find a bow of brass, and +three arrows of lead. Shoot the three arrows at the statue, and the +rider and his horse will fall into the sea; this being done, the sea +will swell and rise to the foot of the dome. When it has come so high, +thou wilt perceive a boat, with one man holding an oar in each hand; +this man is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> also of metal, but different from that thou hast thrown +down; step on board, but without mentioning the name of God, and let +him conduct thee. He will in ten days' time bring thee into another +sea, where thou shalt find an opportunity to return to thy country, +provided, as I have told thee, thou dost not mention the name of God +during the whole voyage."</p> + +<p>When I awoke I felt much comforted by the vision, and did not fail to +observe everything that the old man had commanded me. I took the bow +and arrows out of the ground, shot at the horseman, and with the third +arrow I overthrew him and the horse. In the meantime the sea swelled +and rose up by degrees. When it came as high as the foot of the dome +upon the top of the mountain, I saw, afar off, a boat rowing toward +me, and I returned God thanks.</p> + +<p>When the boat made land I stepped aboard, and took great heed not to +pronounce the name of God, neither spoke I one word. I sat down, and +the man of metal began to row off from the mountain. He rowed without +ceasing till the ninth day, when I saw some islands, which gave me +hopes that I should escape all the danger that I feared. The excess of +my joy made me forget what I was forbidden: "God is great! God be +praised!" said I.</p> + +<p>I had no sooner spoken than the boat and man sank, casting me upon the +sea. I swam until night, when, as my strength began to fail, a wave +vast as a mountain threw me on the land. The first thing I did was to +strip, and to dry my clothes.</p> + +<p>The next morning I went forward to discover what sort of country I was +in. I had not walked far before I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> found I was upon a desert, though a +very pleasant island, abounding with trees and wild shrubs bearing +fruit. I recommended myself to God, and prayed Him to dispose of me +according to His will.</p> + +<p>Immediately after, I saw a vessel coming from the mainland, before the +wind, directly toward the island. I got up into a very thick tree, +from whence, though unseen, I might safely view them. The vessel came +into a little creek, where ten slaves landed, carrying a spade and +other instruments for digging up the ground. They went toward the +middle of the island, where they dug for a considerable time, after +which they lifted up a trapdoor. They returned again to the vessel, +and unloaded several sorts of provisions and furniture, which they +carried to the place where they had been digging; they then descended +into a subterranean dwelling.</p> + +<p>I saw them once more go to the ship, and return soon after with an old +man, who led a handsome lad of about fifteen years of age. They all +descended when the trapdoor had been opened. After they had again come +up, they let down the trapdoor, covered it over with earth, and +returned to the creek where the ship lay; but I saw not the young man +in their company. This made me believe that he had stayed behind in +the subterranean cavern.</p> + +<p>The old man and the slaves went on board, and steered their course +toward the mainland. When I perceived they had proceeded to such a +distance that I could not be seen by them, I came down from the tree, +and went directly to the place where I had seen the ground broken. I +removed the earth by degrees, till I came to a stone two or three feet +square. I lifted it up, and found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> that it covered the head of a +flight of stairs, also of stone. I descended, and at the bottom found +myself in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and furnished with a +carpet, a couch covered with tapestry, and cushions of rich stuff, +upon which the young man sat.</p> + +<p>The young man, when he perceived me, was considerably alarmed; but I +made a low obeisance, and said to him, "Sir, do not fear. I am a king, +and I will do you no harm. On the contrary, it is probable that your +good destiny may have brought me hither to deliver you out of this +tomb, where it seems you have been buried alive. But what surprises me +(for you must know that I have seen all that hath passed since your +coming into this island) is, that you suffered yourself to be entombed +in this place without any resistance."</p> + +<p>The young man, much assured at these words, with a smiling countenance +requested me to seat myself by him. As soon as I was seated he said: +"Prince, my story will surprise you. My father is a jeweler. He has +many slaves, and also agents at the several courts, which he furnishes +with precious stones. He had been long married without having issue +when he dreamed that he should have a son, though his life would be +but short. Some time after, I was born, which occasioned great joy in +the family. My father, who had observed the very moment of my birth, +consulted astrologers about my nativity, and was answered, 'Your son +shall live happily till the age of fifteen, when his life will be +exposed to a danger which he will hardly be able to escape. But if his +good destiny preserve him beyond that time, he will live to a great +age. It will be,' said they, 'when the statue of brass, that stands +upon the summit of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> mountain of adamant, shall be thrown into the +sea by Prince Agib, and, as the stars prognosticate, your son will be +killed fifty days afterward by that prince.'</p> + +<p>"My father took all imaginable care of my education until this year, +which is the fifteenth of my age. He had notice given him yesterday +that the statue of brass had been thrown into the sea about ten days +ago. This news alarmed him much; and, in consequence of the prediction +of the astrologers, he took the precaution to form this subterranean +habitation to hide me in during the fifty days after the throwing down +of the statue; and therefore, as it is ten days since this happened, +he came hastily hither to conceal me, and promised at the end of forty +days to return and fetch me away. For my own part, I am sanguine in my +hopes, and cannot believe that Prince Agib will seek for me in a place +under ground, in the midst of a desert island."</p> + +<p>He had scarcely done speaking when I said to him, with great joy: +"Dear sir, trust in the goodness of God, and fear nothing. I will not +leave you till the forty days have expired, of which the foolish +astrologers have made you apprehensive; and in the meanwhile I will do +you all the service in my power; after which, with leave of your +father and yourself, I shall have the benefit of getting to the +mainland in your vessel; and when I am returned into my kingdom, I +will remember the obligations I owe you, and endeavor to demonstrate +my gratitude by suitable acknowledgments."</p> + +<p>This discourse encouraged the jeweler's son, and inspired him with +confidence. I took care not to inform him I was the very Agib whom he +dreaded, lest I should alarm his fears. I found the young man of ready +wit,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> and partook with him of his provisions, of which he had enough +to have lasted beyond the forty days though he had had more guests +than myself. In short, madam, we spent thirty-nine days in this +subterranean abode in the pleasantest manner possible.</p> + +<p>The fortieth day appeared; and in the morning, when the young man +awoke, he said to me, with a transport of joy that he could not +restrain, "Prince, this is the fortieth day, and I am not dead, thanks +to God and your good company. My father will not fail to make you, +very shortly, every acknowledgment of his gratitude for your +attentions, and will furnish you with every necessary for your return +to your kingdom. But," continued he, "while we are waiting his +arrival, dear prince, pray do me the favor to fetch me a melon and +some sugar,<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> that I may eat some to refresh me."</p> + +<p>Out of several melons that remained I took the best, and laid it on a +plate; and as I could not find a knife to cut it with, I asked the +young man if he knew where there was one.</p> + +<p>"There is one," said he, "upon this cornice over my head." I +accordingly saw it there, and made so much haste to reach it that, +while I had it in my hand, my foot being entangled in the carpet, I +fell most unhappily upon the young man, and the knife pierced his +heart.</p> + +<p>At this spectacle I cried out with agony. I beat my head, my face, my +breast; I tore my clothes; I threw myself on the ground with +unspeakable sorrow and grief.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> +<p>I would have embraced death without any reluctance, had it presented +itself to me. "But what we wish, whether it be good or evil, will not +always happen according to our desire." Nevertheless, considering that +all my tears and sorrows would not restore the young man to life, and, +the forty days being expired, I might be surprised by his father, I +quitted the subterranean dwelling, laid down the great stone upon the +entrance, and covered it with earth. I again ascended into the tree +which had previously sheltered me, when I saw the expected vessel +approaching the shore.</p> + +<p>The old man with his slaves landed immediately, and advanced toward +the subterranean dwelling, with a countenance that showed some hope; +but when they saw the earth had been newly removed, they changed +color, particularly the old man. They lifted up the stone, and +descended the stairs. They called the young man by his name, but no +answer was returned. Their fears redoubled. They searched about, and +at last found him stretched on his couch, with the knife through his +heart, for I had not had the courage to draw it out. On seeing this, +they uttered such lamentable cries that my tears flowed afresh. The +unfortunate father continued a long while insensible, and made them +more than once despair of his life; but at last he came to himself. +The slaves then brought up his son's body, dressed in his best +apparel, and when they had made a grave they buried it. The old man, +supported by two slaves, and his face covered with tears, threw the +first earth upon the body, after which the slaves filled up the grave.</p> + +<p>This being done, all the furniture was brought up,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> and, with the +remaining provisions, put on board the vessel. The old man, overcome +with sorrow, was carried upon a litter to the ship, which stood out to +sea, and in a short time was out of sight.</p> + +<p>After the old man and his slaves were gone I was left alone upon the +island. I lay that night in the subterranean dwelling, which they had +shut up, and when the day came, I walked round the island.</p> + +<p>I led this wearisome life for a whole month. At the expiration of this +time I perceived that the sea had sunk so low that there remained +between me and the continent but a small stream, which I crossed, and +the water did not reach above the middle of my leg. At last I got upon +more firm ground. When I had proceeded some distance from the sea I +saw a good way before me something that resembled a great fire, which +afforded me some comfort; for I said to myself, I shall here find some +persons, it not being possible that this fire should kindle of itself. +As I drew nearer, however, I found my error, and discovered that what +I had taken for a fire was a castle of red copper, which the beams of +the sun made to appear at a distance like flames. As I wondered at +this magnificent building, I saw ten handsome young men coming along; +but what surprised me was that they were all blind of the right eye. +They were accompanied by an old man, very tall, and of a venerable +aspect.</p> + +<p>As I was conjecturing by what adventure these men could come together, +they approached, and seemed glad to see me. After we had made our +salutations, they inquired what had brought me thither. I told them my +story, which filled them with great astonishment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_4" id="pic_4"></a> +<img src="images/image_009.jpg" width="500" height="721" alt="These ladies vied with each other in their eager solicitude to do me all possible service." title="These ladies vied with each other in their eager solicitude to do me all possible service." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">These ladies vied with each other in their eager solicitude to do me all possible service. <a href="#anch_4">Page 91</a></span></div> + +<p>After I had concluded my account, the young men prayed me to accompany +them into the palace, and brought me into a spacious hall, where there +were ten small blue sofas set round, separate from one another. In the +middle of this circle stood an eleventh sofa, not so high as the rest, +but of the same color, upon which the old man before mentioned sat +down, and the young men occupied the other ten. But as each sofa could +only contain one man, one of the young men said to me, "Sit down, +friend, upon that carpet in the middle of the room, and do not inquire +into anything that concerns us, nor the reason why we are all blind of +the right eye."</p> + +<p>The old man, having sat a short time, arose, and went out; but he +returned in a minute or two, brought in supper, distributed to each +man separately his proportion, and likewise brought me mine, which I +ate apart, as the rest did; and when supper was almost ended, he +presented to each of us a cup of wine.</p> + +<p>One of the young men observing that it was late, said to the old man, +"You do not bring us that with which we may acquit ourselves of our +duty." At these words the old man arose, and went into a closet, and +brought out thence upon his head ten basins, one after another, all +covered with black stuff; he placed one before every gentleman, +together with a light.</p> + +<p>They uncovered their basins, which contained ashes and powdered +charcoal; they mixed all together, and rubbed and bedaubed their faces +with it; and having thus blackened themselves, they wept and lamented, +beating their heads and breasts, and crying continually, "This is the +fruit of our idleness and curiosity."</p> + + + +<p>They continued this strange employment nearly the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>whole of the +night. I wished a thousand times to break the silence which had been +imposed upon me, and to ask the reason of their strange proceedings. +The next day, soon after we had arisen, we went out to walk, and then +I said to them, "I cannot forbear asking why you bedaubed your faces +with black—how it has happened that each of you has but one eye. I +conjure you to satisfy my curiosity."</p> + +<p>One of the young men answered on behalf of the rest, "Once more we +advise you to restrain your curiosity; it will cost you the loss of +your right eye."</p> + +<p>"No matter," I replied; "be assured that if such a misfortune befall +me, I will not impute it to you, but to myself."</p> + +<p>He further represented to me that when I had lost an eye I must not +hope to remain with them, if I were so disposed, because their number +was complete, and no addition could be made to it. I begged them, let +it cost what it would, to grant my request.</p> + +<p>The ten young men, perceiving that I was so fixed in my resolution, +took a sheep, killed it, and after they had taken off the skin, +presented me with a knife, telling me it would be useful to me on an +occasion, which they would soon explain. "We must sew you in this +skin," said they, "and then leave you; upon which a bird of monstrous +size, called a roc, will appear in the air, and, taking you for a +sheep, will pounce upon you, and soar with you to the sky. But let not +that alarm you; he will descend with you again, and lay you on the top +of a mountain. When you find yourself on the ground, cut the skin with +your knife, and throw it off. As soon as the roc sees you, he will fly +away for fear, and leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> you at liberty. Do not stay, but walk on +till you come to a spacious palace, covered with plates of gold, large +emeralds, and other precious stones. Go up to the gate, which always +stands open, and walk in. We have each of us been in that castle, but +will tell you nothing of what we saw, or what befell us there; you +will learn by your own experience. All that we can inform you is, that +it has cost each of us our right eye; and the penance which you have +been witness to, is what we are obliged to observe in consequence of +having been there; but we cannot explain ourselves further."</p> + +<p>When the young man had thus spoken, I wrapped myself in the sheep's +skin, holding fast to the knife which was given me; and after the +young men had been at the trouble to sew the skin about me, they +retired into the hall, and left me alone. The roc they spoke of soon +arrived; he pounced upon me, took me in his talons like a sheep, and +carried me up to the summit of the mountain.</p> + +<p>When I found myself on the ground I cut the skin with the knife, and +throwing it off, the roc at the sight of me flew away. This roc is a +white bird of a monstrous size; his strength is such that he can lift +up elephants from the plains, and carry them to the tops of mountains, +where he feeds upon them.</p> + +<p>Being impatient to reach the palace, I lost no time, but made so much +haste that I got thither in half a day's journey; and I must say that +I found it surpassed the description they had given me of its +magnificence.</p> + +<p>The gate being open, I entered a square court, so large that there +were around it ninety-nine gates of sandalwood and wood of aloes, and +one of gold, without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> reckoning those of several superb staircases +that led to apartments above, besides many more which I could not see.</p> + +<p>I saw a door standing open just before me, through which I entered +into a large hall. Here I found forty young women, of such perfect +beauty as imagination could not surpass; they were all most +sumptuously appareled. As soon as they saw me they arose, and without +waiting my salutations, said to me, with tones of joy, "Welcome! +welcome! We have long expected you. You are at present our lord, +master, and judge, and we are your slaves, ready to obey your +commands."</p> + +<p>After these words were spoken, <a name="anch_4" id="anch_4"></a>these ladies vied with each other in +their eager solicitude to do me all possible service. One brought hot +water to wash my feet; a second poured sweet-scented water on my +hands; others brought me all kinds of necessaries and change of +apparel; others again brought in a magnificent collation; and the rest +came, with glasses in their hands, to pour me delicious wines, all in +good order, and in the most charming manner possible. Some of the +ladies brought in musical instruments, and sang most delightful songs; +while others danced before me, two and two, with admirable grace. In +short, honored madam, I must tell you that I passed a whole year of +most pleasurable life with these forty ladies. At the end of that time +I was greatly surprised to see these ladies with great sorrow +impressed upon their countenances, and to hear them all say, "Adieu, +dear prince, adieu! For we must leave you."</p> + +<p>After they had spoken these words, they began to weep bitterly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My dear ladies," said I, "have the kindness not to keep me any longer +in suspense. Tell me the cause of your sorrow."</p> + +<p>"Well," said one of them, "to satisfy you, we must acquaint you that +we are all princesses, daughters of kings. We live here together in +the manner you have seen; but at the end of every year we are obliged +to be absent forty days, for reasons we are not permitted to reveal; +and afterward we return again to this palace. Before we depart we will +leave you the keys of everything, especially those of the hundred +doors, where you will find enough to satisfy your curiosity, and to +relieve your solitude during our absence. But we entreat you to +forbear opening the golden door; for if you do, we shall never see you +again; and the apprehension of this augments our grief."</p> + +<p>We separated with much tenderness; and after I had embraced them all +they departed, and I remained alone in the castle.</p> + +<p>I determined not to forget the important advice they had given me, not +to open the golden door; but as I was permitted to satisfy my +curiosity in everything else, I took the first of the keys of the +other doors, which were hung in regular order.</p> + +<p>I opened the first door, and entered an orchard, which I believe the +universe could not equal. I could not imagine anything to surpass it. +The symmetry, the neatness, the admirable order of the trees, the +abundance and diversity of unknown fruits, their freshness and beauty, +delighted me. Nor must I neglect to inform you that this delightful +garden was watered in a most singular manner; small channels, cut out +with great art and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> regularity, and of different lengths, carried +water in considerable quantities to the roots of such trees as +required much moisture. Others conveyed it in smaller quantities to +those whose fruits were already formed; some carried still less; to +those whose fruits were swelling; and others carried only so much as +was just requisite to water those which had their fruits come to +perfection, and only wanted to be ripened. They far exceeded in size +the ordinary fruits in our gardens. I shut the door, and opened the +next.</p> + +<p>Instead of an orchard, I found here a flower garden, which was no less +extraordinary in its kind. The roses, jessamines, violets, daffodils, +hyacinths, anemones, tulips, pinks, lilies, and an infinite number of +flowers, which do not grow in other places except at certain times, +were there flourishing all at once; and nothing could be more +delicious than the fragrant smell which they emitted.</p> + +<p>I opened the third door, and found a large aviary, paved with marble +of several fine and uncommon colors. The trellis work was made of +sandalwood and wood of aloes. It contained a vast number of +nightingales, goldfinches, canary birds, larks, and other rare singing +birds, and the vessels that held their seed were of the most sparkling +jasper or agate. The sun went down, and I retired, charmed with the +chirping notes of the multitude of birds, who then began to perch upon +such places as suited them for repose during the night. I went to my +chamber, resolving on the following days to open all the rest of the +doors, excepting that of gold.</p> + +<p>The next day I opened the fourth door. I entered a large court, +surrounded with forty gates, all open, and through each of them was an +entrance into a treasury.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> The first was stored with heaps of pearls; +and, what is almost incredible, the number of those stones which are +most precious, and as large as pigeon's eggs, exceeded the number of +those of the ordinary size. In the second treasury,<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> there were +diamonds, carbuncles, and rubies; in the third, emeralds; in the +fourth, ingots of gold; in the fifth, money; in the sixth, ingots of +silver; and in the two following, money. The rest contained amethysts, +chrysolites, topazes, opals, turquoises, agate, jasper, cornelian, and +coral, of which there was a storehouse filled, not only with branches, +but whole trees.</p> + +<p>Thus I went through, day by day, these various wonders. Thirty-nine +days afforded me but just as much time as was necessary to open +ninety-nine doors, and to admire all that presented itself to my view, +so that there was only the hundredth door left, which I was forbidden +to open.</p> + +<p>The fortieth day after the departure of those charming princesses +arrived, and had I but retained so much self-command as I ought to +have had, I should have been this day the happiest of all mankind, +whereas now I am the most unfortunate. But through my weakness, which +I shall ever repent, and the temptations of an evil spirit, I opened +that fatal door! But before I had moved my foot to enter, a smell, +pleasant enough but too powerful for my senses, made me faint away. +However, I soon recovered; but instead of taking warning from <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>this +incident to close the door and restrain my curiosity, I entered, and +found myself in a spacious vaulted apartment, illuminated by several +large tapers placed in candlesticks of solid gold.</p> + +<p>Among the many objects that attracted my attention was a black horse, +of the most perfect symmetry and beauty. I approached in order the +better to observe him, and found he had on a saddle and bridle of +massive gold, curiously wrought. One part of his manger was filled +with clean barley, and the other with rose water. I laid hold of his +bridle, and led him out to view him by daylight. I mounted, and +endeavored to make him move; but finding he did not stir, I struck him +with a switch I had taken up in his magnificent stable. He had no +sooner felt the whip than he began to neigh in a most horrible manner, +and, extending wings, which I had not before perceived, flew up with +me into the air. My thoughts were fully occupied in keeping my seat; +and, considering the fear that had seized me, I sat well. At length he +directed his course toward the earth, and lighting upon the terrace of +a palace, without giving me time to dismount, he shook me out of the +saddle with such force as to throw me behind him, and with the end of +his tail he struck out my eye.</p> + +<p>Thus it was I became blind of one eye. I then recollected the +predictions of the ten young gentlemen. The horse again took wing, and +soon disappeared. I got up, much vexed at the misfortune I had brought +upon myself. I walked upon the terrace, covering my eye with one of my +hands, for it pained me exceedingly, and then descended, and entered +into a hall. I soon discovered, by the ten sofas in a circle and the +eleventh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> in the middle, lower than the rest, that I was in the castle +whence I had been carried by the roc.</p> + +<p>The ten young men seemed not at all surprised to see me, nor at the +loss of my eye; but said, "We are sorry that we cannot congratulate +you on your return, as we could wish; but we are not the cause of your +misfortune."</p> + +<p>"I should do you wrong," I replied, "to lay it to your charge; I have +only myself to accuse."</p> + +<p>"If," said they, "it be a subject of consolation to the afflicted to +know that others share their sufferings, you have in us this +alleviation of your misfortune. All that has happened to you we also +have endured; we each of us tasted the same pleasures during a year; +and we had still continued to enjoy them had we not opened the golden +door when the princesses were absent. You have been no wiser than we, +and have incurred the same punishment. We would gladly receive you +into our company, to join with us in the penance to which we are +bound, the duration of which we know not. But we have already stated +to you the reasons that render this impossible; depart, therefore, and +proceed to the court of Bagdad,<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> where you will meet with the +person who is to decide your destiny."</p> + +<p>After they had explained to me the road I was to travel, I departed.</p> + +<p>On the road I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaven, and assumed a +calender's habit. I have had a long journey, but at last I arrived +this evening, and met these my brother calenders at the gate, being +strangers as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>well as myself. We were mutually surprised at one +another, to see that we were all blind of the same eye; but we had not +leisure to converse long on the subject of our misfortunes. We have +only had time enough to bring us hither, to implore those favors which +you have been generously pleased to grant us.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The third calender having finished this relation of his adventures, +Zobeide addressed him and his fellow-calenders thus: "Go wherever you +think proper; you are at liberty."</p> + +<p>But one of them answered, "Madam, we beg you to pardon our curiosity, +and permit us to hear the stories of your other guests who have not +yet spoken."</p> + +<p>Then the lady turned to the caliph, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour, +and said to them, "It is now your turn to relate your adventures; +therefore speak."</p> + +<p>The grand vizier, who had all along been the spokesman, answered +Zobeide: "Madam, in order to obey you, we need only repeat what we +have already said to the fair lady who opened for us the door. We are +merchants come to Bagdad to sell our merchandise, which lies in the +khan<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> where we lodge. We dined to-day with several other persons of +our condition, at a merchant's house of this city; who, after he had +treated us with choice dainties and excellent wines, sent for men and +women dancers and musicians. The great noise we made brought in the +watch, who arrested some of the company, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>but we had the good fortune +to escape. But it being already late, and the door of our khan shut +up, we knew not whither to retire. We chanced, as we passed along this +street, to hear music at your house, which made us determine to knock +at your gate. This is all the account that we can give you, in +obedience to your commands."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said Zobeide, "you shall all be equally obliged to me; I +pardon you all, provided you immediately depart!"</p> + +<p>Zobeide having given this command, the caliph, the vizier, Mesrour, +the three calenders, and the porter, departed; for the presence of the +seven slaves with their weapons awed them into silence. As soon as +they had quitted the house, and the gate was closed after them, the +caliph said to the calenders, without making himself known, "You, +gentlemen, who are newly come to town, which way do you design to go, +since it is not yet day?"</p> + +<p>"It is this," they replied, "that perplexes us."</p> + +<p>"Follow us," resumed the caliph, "and we will convey you out of +danger."</p> + +<p>He then whispered to the vizier: "Take them along with you, and +to-morrow morning bring them to me."</p> + +<p>The vizier Giafar took the three calenders along with him; the porter +went to his quarters, and the caliph and Mesrour returned to the +palace.</p> + +<p>On the following morning, as the day dawned, the sultan Haroun al +Raschid arose and went to his council chamber, and sat upon his +throne. The grand vizier entered soon after, and made his obeisance.</p> + +<p>"Vizier," said the caliph, "go, bring those ladies and the calenders +at the same time; make haste, and remember that I impatiently expect +your return."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>The vizier, who knew his master's quick and fiery temper, hastened to +obey, and conducted them to the palace with so much expedition that +the caliph was much pleased.</p> + +<p>When the ladies had arrived the caliph turned toward them and said, "I +was last night in your house, disguised in a merchant's habit; but I +am at present Haroun al Raschid, the fifth caliph of the glorious +house of Abbas, and hold the place of our great prophet. I have sent +for you only to know who you are, and to ask for what reason one of +you, after severely whipping the two black dogs, wept with them. And I +am no less curious to know why another of you has her bosom so full of +scars."</p> + +<p>Upon hearing these words, Zobeide thus related her story:</p> + + +<h3>THE STORY OF ZOBEIDE</h3> +<p>Commander of the Faithful, my story is truly wonderful. The two black +dogs and myself are sisters by the same father and mother. The two +ladies who are now here are also my sisters, but by another mother. +After our father's death, the property that he left was equally +divided among us. My two half sisters left me, that they might live +with their mother. My two sisters and myself resided with our own +mother. At her death she left us three thousand sequins each. Shortly +after my sisters had received their portions, they married; but their +husbands, having spent all their fortunes, found some pretext for +divorcing them, and put them away. I received them into my house, and +gave them<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> a share <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>of all my goods. At the end of a twelvemonth my +sisters again resolved to marry, and did so. After some months were +passed, they returned again in the same sad condition; and as they +accused themselves a thousand times, I again forgave them, and +admitted them to live with me as before, and we dwelt together for the +space of a year. After this I determined to engage in a commercial +speculation. For this purpose I went with my two sisters to +Bussorah,<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> where I bought a ship ready fitted for sea, and laded +her with such merchandise<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> as I had carried with me from Bagdad. We +set sail with a fair wind, and soon cleared the Persian Gulf; when we +had reached the open sea we steered our course to the Indies, and on +the twentieth day saw land. It was a very high mountain, at the bottom +of which we perceived a great town; having a fresh gale, we soon +reached the harbor, and cast anchor.</p> + +<p>I had not patience to wait till my sisters were dressed to go along +with me, but went ashore alone in the boat. Making directly to the +gate of the town, I saw there a great number of men upon guard, some +sitting, and others <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>standing with weapons in their hands; and they +had all such dreadful countenances that I was greatly alarmed; but +perceiving they remained stationary, and did not so much as move their +eyes, I took courage and went nearer, when I found they were all +turned into stone. I entered the town, and passed through several +streets, where at different intervals stood men in various attitudes, +but all motionless and petrified. In the quarter inhabited by the +merchants I found most of the shops open; here I likewise found the +people petrified.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a></p> + +<p>Having reached a vast square, in the heart of the city, I perceived a +large folding gate, covered with plates of gold, which stood open; a +curtain of silk stuff seemed to be drawn before it; a lamp hung over +the entrance. After I had surveyed the building, I made no doubt but +it was the palace of the prince who reigned over that country; and +being much astonished that I had not met with one living creature, I +approached in hopes of finding some. I lifted up the curtain, and was +surprised at beholding no one but the guards in the vestibule, all +petrified.</p> + +<p>I came to a large court. I went from thence into a room richly +furnished, where I perceived a lady turned into a statue of stone. The +crown of gold on her head, and a necklace of pearls about her neck, +each of them as large as a nut, proclaimed her to be the queen. I +quitted <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>the chamber where the petrified queen was, and passed through +several other apartments richly furnished, and at last came into a +large room where there was a throne of massy gold, raised several +steps above the floor, and enriched with large enchased emeralds, and +upon the throne there was a bed of rich stuff embroidered with pearls. +What surprised me most was a sparkling light which came from above the +bed. Being curious to know whence it proceeded, I ascended the steps, +and, lifting up my head, saw a diamond as large as the egg of an +ostrich, lying upon a low stool; it was so pure that I could not find +the least blemish in it, and it sparkled with so much brilliancy that +when I saw it by daylight I could not endure its luster.</p> + +<p>At the head of the bed there stood on each side a lighted flambeau, +but for what use I could not comprehend; however, it made me imagine +that there must be some one living in the place; for I could not +believe that the torches continued thus burning of themselves.</p> + +<p>The doors being all open, I surveyed some other apartments, that were +as beautiful as those I had already seen. In short, the wonders that +everywhere appeared so wholly engrossed my attention that I forgot my +ship and my sisters, and thought of nothing but gratifying my +curiosity. In the meantime night came on, and I tried to return by the +way I had entered, but I could not find it; I lost myself among the +apartments; and perceiving I was come back again to the large room, +where the throne, the couch, the large diamond, and the torches stood, +I resolved to take my night's lodging there, and to depart the next +morning early, to get aboard my ship. I laid myself down upon a +costly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> couch, not without some dread to be alone in a desolate place; +and this fear hindered my sleep.</p> + +<p>About midnight I heard a man reading the Koran,<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> in the same tone +as it is read in our mosques. I immediately arose, and taking a torch +in my hand passed from one chamber to another, on that side from +whence the voice proceeded, until looking through a window I found it +to be an oratory. It had, as we have in our mosques, a niche,<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> to +direct us whither we are to turn to say our prayers; there were also +lamps hung up, and two candlesticks with large tapers of white wax +burning.</p> + +<p>I saw a little carpet laid down like those we have to kneel upon when +we say our prayers, and a comely young man sat on this carpet, with +great devotion reading the Koran, which lay before him on a desk. At +this sight I was transported with admiration. I wondered how it came +to pass that he should be the only living <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>creature in a town where +all the people were turned into stone, and I do not doubt but there +was something in the circumstance very extraordinary.</p> + +<p>The door being only half shut I opened it, went in, and standing +upright before the niche, I exclaimed, "Bismillah!<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> Praise be to +God." The young man turned toward me, and, having saluted me, inquired +what had brought me to this desolate city. I told him in a few words +my history, and I prayed him to tell me why he alone was left alive in +the midst of such terrible desolation. At these words he shut the +Koran, put it into a rich case, and laid it in the niche. Then he thus +addressed me:</p> + +<p>"Know that this city was the metropolis of a mighty kingdom, over +which the sultan, who was my father, reigned. That prince, his whole +court, the inhabitants of the city, and all his other subjects, were +magi, worshipers of fire instead of God.</p> + +<p>"But though I was born of an idolatrous father and mother I had the +good fortune in my youth to have a nurse who was a good Mussulman, +believing in God and in His prophet. 'Dear Prince,' would she +oftentimes say, 'there is but one true God; take heed that you do not +acknowledge and adore any other.' She taught me to read Arabic, and +the book she gave me to study was the Koran. As soon as I was capable +of understanding it, she explained to me all the passages of this +excellent book, unknown to my father or any other person. She died, +but not before she had perfectly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>instructed me in the Mussulman +religion. After her death, I persisted in worshiping according to its +directions; and I abhor the adoration of fire.</p> + +<p>"About three years and some months ago, a thundering voice was +suddenly sounded so distinctly through the whole city that nobody +could miss hearing it. The words were these: 'Inhabitants, abandon the +worship of fire, and worship the only God who shows mercy.' This voice +was heard three years successively, but no one was converted. On the +last day of that year, at the break of day, all the inhabitants were +changed in an instant into stone, each one in the condition and +posture in which he happened to be. The sultan, my father, and the +queen, my mother, shared the same fate.</p> + +<p>"I am the only person who did not suffer under that heavy judgment, +and ever since I have continued to serve God with more fervency than +before. I am persuaded, dear lady, that He has sent you hither for my +comfort, for which I render Him infinite thanks, for I must own that I +have become weary of this solitary life."</p> + +<p>On hearing these words, I said, "Prince, who can doubt that Providence +has brought me into your port, to afford you an opportunity of +withdrawing from this dismal place? I am a lady at Bagdad, where I +have considerable property; and I dare engage to promise you sanctuary +there, until the mighty Commander of the Faithful, caliph of our +prophet, whom you acknowledge, shows you the honor that is due to your +merit. This renowned prince lives at Bagdad, and as soon as he is +informed of your arrival in his capital you will find it not in vain +to implore his assistance. Stay no longer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> in a city where you can +only renew your grief; my vessel is at your service, which you may +absolutely command as you shall think fit." He accepted the offer, and +as soon as it was day we left the palace, and went aboard my ship, +where we found my sisters, the captain, and the slaves, all much +troubled at my absence. After I had presented my sisters to the +prince, I told them what had hindered my return the day before, how I +had met with the young prince, his story, and the cause of the +desolation of so fine a city.</p> + +<p>The seamen were taken up several days in unloading the merchandise I +brought with me, and embarking in its stead many of the precious +things in the palace, especially jewels, gold, and money. We left the +furniture and goods, which consisted of an infinite quantity of silver +vessels, because our vessel could not carry it, for it would have +required several vessels more to convey to Bagdad all the riches that +we might have taken with us.</p> + +<p>After we had laden the vessel with what we thought most desirable, we +took such provisions and water aboard as were necessary for our +voyage. At last we set sail with a favorable wind.</p> + +<p>The young prince, my sisters, and myself passed our time very +agreeably. But, alas! this good understanding did not last long, for +my sisters grew jealous of the friendship between the prince and +myself, and maliciously asked me, one day, what we should do with him +when we came to Bagdad. Resolving to put this question off with a +joke, I answered, "I will take him for my husband." Upon that, turning +myself to the prince, I said, "Sir, I humbly beg of you to give your +consent, for as soon as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> we come to Bagdad I design to offer you my +person to be your slave, to do you all the service that is in my +power, and to resign myself wholly to your commands."</p> + +<p>The prince replied, "I know not, madam, whether you be in jest or no; +but for my part, I seriously declare before these ladies, your +sisters, that from this moment I heartily accept your offer, not with +any intention to have you as a slave, but as my lady and wife." At +these words my sisters changed color, and I could perceive afterward +that they did not love me as before.</p> + +<p>We entered the Persian Gulf, and had come within a short distance of +Bussorah (where I hoped, considering the fair wind, we might have +arrived the day following), when, in the night, while I was asleep, my +sisters watched their opportunity and threw me overboard. They did the +same to the prince, who was drowned. I floated some minutes on the +water, and by good fortune, or rather miracle, I felt ground. I went +toward a dark spot, that, by what I could discern, seemed to be land, +and which, when day appeared, I found to be a desert island, lying +about twenty miles from Bussorah. I soon dried my clothes in the sun, +and as I walked along I found several kinds of fruit, and likewise +fresh water, which gave me some hopes of preserving my life.</p> + +<p>I had just laid myself down to rest in a shade, when I perceived a +very large winged serpent coming toward me, with an irregular waving +movement, and hanging out its tongue, which induced me to conclude it +had received some injury. I instantly arose, and perceived that it was +pursued by a larger serpent which had hold of its tail, and was +endeavoring to devour it. This perilous situation of the first serpent +excited my pity;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> and instead of retreating, I took up a stone that +lay near me, and threw it with all my strength at its pursuer, whom I +hit upon the head and killed. The other, finding itself at liberty, +took wing and flew away. I looked after it for some time till it +disappeared. I then sought another shady spot for repose, and fell +asleep.</p> + +<p>Judge what was my surprise, when I awoke, to see standing by me a +black woman of lively and agreeable features, who held in her hand two +dogs of the same color, fastened together. I sat up, and asked her who +she was.</p> + +<p>"I am," said she, "the serpent whom you lately delivered from my +mortal enemy, and I wish to requite the important services you have +rendered me. These two black dogs are your sisters, whom I have +transformed into this shape. But this punishment will not suffice; and +my will is that you treat them hereafter in the way I shall direct."</p> + +<p>As soon as she had thus spoken the fairy took me under one of her +arms, and the two black dogs under the other, and conveyed us to my +house in Bagdad, where I found in my storehouses all the riches with +which my vessel had been laden. Before she left me, she delivered to +me the two dogs, and said, "If you would not be changed into a similar +form, I command you to give each of your sisters every night one +hundred lashes with a rod, as the punishment of the crime they have +committed against yourself and the young prince, whom they have +drowned." I was forced to promise obedience. Since that time I have +whipped them every night, though with regret, whereof your majesty has +been a witness. My tears testify with how much sorrow and reluctance I +perform this painful duty. If there be anything else<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> relating to +myself that you desire to know, my sister Amina will give you full +information in the relation of her story.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>After the caliph had heard Zobeide with much astonishment, he desired +his grand vizier to request Amina to acquaint him wherefore her breast +was disfigured with so many scars.</p> + + +<h3>THE HISTORY OF AMINA</h3> +<p>Commander of the Faithful, that I may not repeat those things which +your majesty has already been informed of by my sister, I will only +mention that my mother, having taken a house to pass her widowhood in +private, first bestowed me in marriage on the heir of one of the +richest men in this city.</p> + +<p>I had not been married quite a year before my husband died. I thus +became a widow, and was in possession of all his property, which +amounted to above ninety thousand sequins. When the first six months +of my mourning was over, I caused to be made for me ten different +dresses, of such magnificence that each came to a thousand sequins; +and at the end of the year I began to wear them.</p> + +<p>One day, while I was alone, a lady<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> desired to speak to me. I gave +orders that she should be admitted. She was a very old woman. She +saluted me by kissing the ground, and said to me, kneeling, "Dear +lady, the confidence I have in your charity makes me thus bold. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>I +have an orphan daughter, whose wedding is on this night. She and I are +both strangers, and have no acquaintance in this town, which much +perplexes me. Therefore, most beautiful lady, if you would vouchsafe +to honor the wedding with your presence, we shall be infinitely +obliged, because the family with whom we shall be allied will then +know that we are not regarded here as unworthy and despised persons. +But, alas, madam, if you refuse this request, how great will be our +mortification! We know not where else to apply."</p> + +<p>This poor woman's address, which she spoke with tears, moved my +compassion.</p> + +<p>"Good woman," said I, "do not afflict yourself; I will grant you the +favor you desire. Tell me whither I must go, and I will meet you as +soon as I am dressed." The old woman was so transported with joy at my +answer that she kissed my feet before I had time to prevent her.</p> + +<p>"Compassionate lady," said she, rising, "God will reward the kindness +you have shown to your servants, and make your heart as joyful as you +have made theirs. You need not at present trouble yourself; I will +call for you in the evening."</p> + +<p>As soon as she was gone I took the suit I liked best, with a necklace +of large pearls, bracelets, pendants for my ears, and rings set with +the finest and most sparkling diamonds, and prepared to attend the +ceremony.</p> + +<p>When the night closed in, the old woman called upon me, with a +countenance full of joy, and said, "Dear lady, the relations of my +son-in-law, who are the principal ladies of the city, are now met +together. You may come when you please; I am ready to conduct you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>We immediately set out; she walked before me, and I was followed by a +number of my women and slaves, richly robed for the occasion. We +stopped in a wide street, newly swept and watered, at a spacious gate +with a lamp, by the light of which I read this inscription, in golden +letters, over the entrance: "This is the continual abode of pleasure +and joy."</p> + +<p>The old woman knocked, and the gate was opened immediately.</p> + +<p>I was conducted toward the lower end of the court, into a large hall, +where I was received by a young lady of exceeding beauty. She drew +near, and after having embraced me, made me sit down by her upon a +sofa, on which was raised a throne of precious wood set with diamonds.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said she, "you are brought hither to assist at a wedding; but +I hope it will be a different wedding from what you expected. I have a +brother, one of the handsomest men in the world. His fate depends +wholly upon you, and he will be the unhappiest of men if you do not +take pity on him. If my prayers, madam, can prevail, I shall join them +with his, and humbly beg you will not refuse the proposal of being his +wife."</p> + +<p>After the death of my husband I had not thought of marrying again; but +I had no power to refuse the solicitation of so charming a lady. As +soon as I had given consent by my silence, accompanied with a blush, +the young lady clapped her hands, and immediately a curtain was +withdrawn, from behind which came a young man of so majestic an air, +and so graceful a countenance, that I thought myself happy to have +made such a choice. He sat down by me, and I found from his +conversation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> that his merits far exceeded the account of him given by +his sister.</p> + +<p>When she perceived that we were satisfied with one another, she +clapped her hands a second time, and a cadi<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> with four witnesses, +entered, who wrote and signed our contract of marriage.</p> + +<p>There was only one condition that my new husband imposed upon me, that +I should not be seen by nor speak to any other man but himself; and he +vowed to me that, if I complied in this respect, I should have no +reason to complain of him. Our marriage was concluded and finished +after this manner; so I became the principal actress in a wedding to +which I had only been invited as a guest.</p> + +<p>About a month after our marriage, having occasion for some stuffs, I +asked my husband's permission to go out to buy them, which he granted; +and I took with me the old woman of whom I spoke before, she being one +of the family, and two of my own female slaves.</p> + +<p>When we came to the street where the merchants reside, the old woman +said, "Dear mistress, since you want silk stuffs, I must take you to a +young merchant of my acquaintance, who has a great variety; and that +you may not fatigue yourself by running from shop to shop, I can +assure you that you will find in his what no other can furnish." I was +easily persuaded, and we entered a shop belonging to a young merchant. +I sat down, and bade the old woman desire him to show me the finest +silk stuffs he had. The woman desired me to speak myself; but I told +her it was one of the articles of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>my marriage contract not to speak +to any man but my husband, which I ought to keep.</p> + +<p>The merchant showed me several stuffs, of which one pleased me better +than the rest; and I bade her ask the price. He answered the old +woman: "I will not sell it for gold or money; but I will make her a +present of it, if she will give me leave to kiss her cheek."</p> + +<p>I ordered the old woman to tell him that he was very rude to propose +such a freedom. But instead of obeying me, she said, "What the +merchant desires of you is no such great matter; you need not speak, +but only present him your cheek."</p> + +<p>The stuff pleased me so much that I was foolish enough to take her +advice. The old woman and my slaves stood up, that nobody might see, +and I put up my veil;<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> but instead of kissing me, the merchant bit +me so violently as to draw blood.</p> + +<p>The pain and my surprise were so great that I fell down in a swoon, +and continued insensible so long that the merchant had time to escape. +When I came to myself I found my cheek covered with blood. The old +woman and my slaves took care to cover it with my veil, and the people +who came about us could not perceive it, but supposed I had only had a +fainting fit.</p> + +<p>The old woman who accompanied me being extremely troubled at this +accident, endeavored to comfort me.</p> + +<p>"My dear mistress," said she, "I beg your pardon, for I am the cause +of this misfortune, having brought <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>you to this merchant, because he +is my countryman; but I never thought he would be guilty of such a +villainous action. But do not grieve. Let us hasten home, and I will +apply a remedy that shall in three days so perfectly cure you that not +the least mark shall be visible."</p> + +<p>The pain had made me so weak that I was scarcely able to walk. But at +last I got home, where I again fainted, as I went into my chamber. +Meanwhile, the old woman applied her remedy. I came to myself, and +went to bed.</p> + +<p>My husband came to me at night, and seeing my head bound up, asked me +the reason. I told him I had the headache, which I hoped would have +satisfied him; but he took a candle, and saw my cheek was hurt.</p> + +<p>"How comes this wound?" he said.</p> + +<p>Though I did not consider myself as guilty of any great offense, yet I +could not think of owning the truth. Besides, to make such an avowal +to a husband, I considered as somewhat indecorous.</p> + +<p>I therefore said, "That as I was going, under his permission, to +purchase a silk stuff, a camel,<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> carrying a load of wood, came so +near to me in a narrow street, that one of the sticks grazed my cheek, +but had not done me much hurt."</p> + +<p>"If that is the case," said my husband, "to-morrow morning, before +sunrise, the grand vizier Giafar shall be informed of this insolence, +and cause all the camel drivers to be put to death."</p> + +<p>"Pray, sir," said I, "let me beg of you to pardon them, for they are +not guilty."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> +<p>"How, madam," he demanded, "what, then, am I to believe? Speak; for I +am resolved to know the truth from your own mouth."</p> + +<p>"Sir," I replied, "I was taken with a giddiness, and fell down, and +that is the whole matter."</p> + +<p>At these words my husband lost all patience.</p> + +<p>"I have," said he, "too long listened to your tales."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and in came three slaves. "Strike," +said he; "cut her in two, and then throw her into the Tigris. This is +the punishment I inflict on those to whom I have given my heart, when +they falsify their promise."</p> + +<p>I had recourse to entreaties and prayers; but I supplicated in vain, +when the old woman, who had been his nurse, coming in just at that +moment, fell down upon her knees and endeavored to appease his wrath.</p> + +<p>"My son," said she, "since I have been your nurse, and brought you up, +let me beg you to consider, 'he who kills shall be killed,' and that +you will stain your reputation and forfeit the esteem of mankind."</p> + +<p>She spoke these words in such an affecting manner, accompanied with +tears, that she prevailed upon him at last to abandon his purpose.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said he to his nurse, "for your sake I will spare her +life; but she shall bear about her person some marks to make her +remember her offense."</p> + +<p>When he had thus spoken, one of the slaves, by his order, gave me upon +my sides and breast so many blows<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>with a little cane, that he +tore away both skin and flesh, which threw me into a swoon. In this +state he caused the same slaves, the executioners of his will, to +carry me into the house, where the old woman took care of me. I kept +my bed for four months. At last I recovered. The scars which, contrary +to my wish, you saw yesterday, have remained ever since.</p> + +<p>As soon as I was able to walk and go abroad, I resolved to retire to +the house which was left me by my first husband, but I could not find +the site whereon it stood, as my second husband had caused it to be +leveled with the ground.</p> + +<p>Being thus left destitute and helpless, I had recourse to my dear +sister Zobeide. She received me with her accustomed goodness, and +advised me to bear with patience my affliction, from which, she said, +none are free. In confirmation of her remark, she gave me an account +of the loss of the young prince her husband, occasioned by the +jealousy of her two sisters. She told me also by what accident they +were transformed into dogs; and in the last place, after a thousand +testimonials of her love toward me, she introduced me to my youngest +sister, who had likewise taken sanctuary with her after the death of +her mother; and we have continued to live together in the house in +which we received the guests whom your highness found assembled on +your visit last night.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The caliph publicly expressed his admiration of what he had heard, and +inquired of Zobeide, "Madam, did not this fairy whom you delivered, +and who imposed such a rigorous command upon you, tell you where her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +place of abode was, or that she would restore your sisters to their +natural shape?"</p> + +<p>"Commander of the Faithful," answered Zobeide, "the fairy did leave +with me a bundle of hair, saying that her presence would one day be of +use to me; and then, if I only burned two tufts of this hair, she +would be with me in a moment."</p> + +<p>"Madam," demanded the caliph, "where is the bundle of hair?"</p> + +<p>She answered, "Ever since that time I have been so careful of it that +I always carry it about me."</p> + +<p>Upon which she pulled it out of the case which contained it, and +showed it to him.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said the caliph, "let us bring the fairy hither; you +could not call her in a better time, for I long to see her."</p> + +<p>Zobeide having consented, fire was brought in, and she threw the whole +bundle of hair into it. The palace at that instant began to shake, and +the fairy appeared before the caliph in the form of a lady very richly +dressed.</p> + +<p>"Commander of the Faithful," said she to the prince, "you see I am +ready to receive your commands. At your wish I will not only restore +these two sisters to their former shape, but I will also cure this +lady of her scars, and tell you who it was that abused her."</p> + +<p>The caliph sent for the two dogs from Zobeide's house, and when they +came a glass of water was brought to the fairy by her desire. She +pronounced over it some words, which nobody understood; then, throwing +some part of it upon Amina and the rest upon the dogs, the latter +became two ladies of surprising beauty, and the scars that were upon +Amina disappeared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>After this the fairy said to the caliph, "Commander of the Faithful, I +must now discover to you the unknown husband you inquire after. He is +Prince Amin, your eldest son, who by stratagem brought this lady to +his house, where he married her. As to the blows he caused to be given +her, he is in some measure excusable; for this lady, his spouse, by +the excuses she made, led him to believe she was more in fault than +she really was."</p> + +<p>At these words she saluted the caliph, and vanished.</p> + +<p>The caliph, much satisfied with the changes that had happened through +his means, acted in such a manner as will perpetuate his memory to all +ages. First, he sent for his son Amin, and told him that he was +informed of his secret marriage and how he had ill-treated Amina upon +a very slight cause. Upon this, the prince, upon his father's +commands, received her again immediately.</p> + +<p>After which Haroun al Raschid declared that he would give his own +heart and hand to Zobeide, and offered the other three sisters to the +calenders, sons of sultans, who accepted them for their brides with +much joy. The caliph assigned each of them a magnificent palace in the +city of Bagdad, promoted them to the highest dignities of his empire, +and admitted them to his councils.</p> + +<p>The chief cadi of Bagdad being called, with witnesses, he wrote the +contracts of marriage; and the caliph, in promoting by his patronage +the happiness of many persons who had suffered such incredible +calamities, drew a thousand blessings upon himself.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Baskets, panniers made of leaves of palm, used in +conveying fruits and bread, while heavier articles are carried in bags +of leather or skin.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Calender, a sort of privileged beggar or fakir among the +Mohammedans, who wore a dress of sheepskin, with a leathern girdle +about his loins, and collected alms. A dervish is a poor man, who is +not bound by any vow of poverty to abstain from meat, and may +relinquish his profession at will.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> This may probably be an allusion to the two great +divisions prevailing among the Mohammedans, the Soonnis and the +Shiites. The former upheld the legitimacy of the three first +successions of Mohammed; the latter maintained the right of his cousin +and son-in-law, Ali, and his descendants, called Fatemites or +Ismaelites. They both received the Koran, but the one added to it the +Sonna, or certain oral traditions attributed to Mohammed, which the +other rejected.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> The dog is in great disrepute among the Mohammedans. +Mohammed is reported to have said, "No angel enters where a dog is." +Cats, on the contrary, are great favorites, and sometimes accompany +their masters when they go to their mosque. The Mohammedans are under +certain restrictions in food; they are forbidden to eat the hare, +wolf, the cat, and all animals forbidden by the law of Moses. The +shrimp is forbidden among fish.—Bernard Picard.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> This is the ordinary mode in the East of calling the +attendants in waiting.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> In this manner the apartments of ladies were constantly +guarded.—Beckford's <i>Vathek</i>, Notes to p. 204.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Eblis, or Degial, the evil spirit, who, according to the +Koran, betrayed Adam to transgression, and yet seeks to inflict injury +on his race.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Sir Paul Ricaut gives this account of the dress of the +dervish. "Their shirts are of coarse linen, with a white plaid or +mantle about their shoulders. Their caps are like the crown of a hat +of the largest size. Their legs are always bare, and their breasts +open, which some of them burn or scar in token of greater devotion. +They wear a leathern girdle, with some shining stone upon the buckle +before. They always carry a string of beads, which they call Tesbe, +and oftener run them over than our friars do their rosary, at every +bead repeating the name of God."—<i>History of Ottoman Empire</i>, p. 263. +</p><p> +"Their order has few rules, except of performing their fantastic rites +every Tuesday and Friday. They meet in a large hall, where they all +stand with their eyes fixed on the ground, and their arms crossed, +while the imaun or preacher reads part of the Koran from a pulpit, and +after a short exposition on what he has read, they stand around their +superior, and tying their robe, which is very wide, round their waist, +begin to turn round with an amazing swiftness, moving fast or slow as +the music is played. This lasts above an hour, without any of them +showing the least appearance of giddiness, which is not to be wondered +at when it is considered they are used to it from their infancy. There +were among them some little dervishes, of six or seven years old, who +seemed no more disordered by that exercise than the others. At the end +of the ceremony they shout out, 'There is no other god but God, and +Mohammed is his prophet'; after which they kiss the superior's hand +and retire. The whole is performed with the most solemn gravity." Lady +M. W. Montague's <i>Letters</i>, vol. ii, p. 43.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> The word peri, in the Persian language, signifies that +beautiful race of creatures which constitutes the link between angels +and men.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Sheiks are the chiefs of the societies of dervishes; +cadis, the magistrate of a town or city.—Notes on Vathek, p. 322.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> A favorite story is related of the benevolence of one of +the sons of Ali. In serving at table, a slave had inadvertently +dropped a dish of scalding broth on his master. The heedless wretch +fell prostrate to deprecate his punishment, and repeated a verse of +the Koran: "Paradise is for those who command their anger." "I am not +angry." "And for those who pardon offenses." "I pardon your offense." +"And for those who return good for evil." "I give you your liberty, +and four hundred pieces of silver."—Gibbon's <i>Decline and Fall.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Chess is said to have had its origin in the East, and to +have been introduced into Europe after the Crusades.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> This same power of changing the form has found a place +in ancient and modern story. The Proteus of heathen mythology ever +found means of safety and protection by his sudden assumption of some +new form and shape.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> The erection of these tombs over the supposed effigy, or +the real remains, of the deceased, is often mentioned in these tales. +The same type of tomb, with its dome or cupola, prevails throughout. A +structure of a similar fashion is celebrated in history as the Taj +Mahal at Agra, erected by the Shah Jehan, in memory of his queen, +Mumtaz Mahal. It stands on a marble terrace over the Jamna, and is +surrounded by extensive gardens. The building itself on the outside is +of white marble, with a high cupola and four minarets. In the center +of the inside is a lofty hall of a circular form under a dome, in the +middle of which is the tomb, inclosed within an open screen of +elaborate tracery formed of marble and mosaics. The materials are +lapis lazuli, jasper, bloodstone, a sort of golden stone (not well +understood), agates, carnelian, jade, and various other stones. A +single flower in the screen contains a hundred stones; "and yet," says +Bishop Heber; "though everything is finished like an ornament for a +drawing-room chimney-piece, the general effect is rather solemn and +impressive than gaudy."—Elphinstone's <i>India</i>, p. 528; and <i>Asiatic +Researches</i>, Vol. V, p. 434.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Sugar has been traced to the Arabic "succar," which is +the Persian "shachar." The sugar-cane is a jointed reed, crowned with +leaves or blades; it contains a soft, pithy substance, full of sweet +juice. The people of Egypt eat a great quantity of the green +sugar-canes, and make a coarse loaf-sugar, and also sugar-candy and +some very fine sugar, sent to Constantinople to the Grand Signor, +which is very dear, being made only for that purpose.—Dr. Richard +Pocock, <i>Travels</i>, Vol. I, p. 204.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> These tales were written shortly after the conquest of +Persia, the riches of which country may be reflected in these +narratives. "The naked robbers of the desert were suddenly enriched, +beyond the measure of their hope and knowledge. Each chamber revealed +a new chamber secreted with art, or ostentatiously displayed; the gold +and silver, the various wardrobes and precious furniture, surpassed +(says Abulfeda) the estimate of fancy or numbers, and another +historian defines the untold and almost infinite mass by the fabulous +computation of thousands of thousands of pieces of gold."—Gibbon's +<i>Decline and Fall.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Bagdad was founded in the 145th year of the Hejira or +flight of Mohammed to Medina, 767. It was destroyed by Hulakoo, +grandson of Gengis Khan, in the 656th of the Hejira, <span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 1277, when +the dynasty of the Ambassides was terminated.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> "Khan, or caravansary, a large building of a +quadrangular form, being one story in height. The ground floor serves +for warehouses and stables, while the upper is used for lodgings. They +always contain a fountain, and have cook shops and other conveniences +attached to them in town. The erection of them is considered +meritorious both among Hindus and Mussulmans. They are erected on the +sides of public highways, and are then only a set of bare rooms and +outhouses."—<i>Popular Cyclopedia</i>, Vol. II, p. 108.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> "The giving of alms is commanded in the Koran. Hasan, +the son of Ali, grandson of Mohammed, is related to have thrice in his +life divided his substance equally between himself and the +poor."—Sale's <i>Preliminary Dissertation</i>, p. 110.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> "At the distance of fourscore miles from the Persian +Gulf, the Euphrates and Tigris unite in a broad and direct current. In +the midway, between the junction and the mouth of these famous +streams, the new settlement of Bussorah was planted on the western +bank; the first colony was composed of eight hundred Moslems; but the +influence of the situation soon reared a flourishing and populous +capital. The air, though excessively hot, is pure and healthy; the +meadows are filled with palm trees and cattle; and one of the adjacent +valleys has been celebrated among the four paradises or gardens of +Asia. Under the first caliphs, the jurisdiction of this Arab colony +extended over the southern provinces of Persia; the city has been +sanctified by the tombs of the companions and martyrs and the vessels +of Europe still frequent the port of Bussorah, as a convenient station +and passage of the Indian trade."—Gibbon's <i>Decline and Fall</i>, 41, +C.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Bussorah was built by the caliph Omar. The city has four +kinds of inhabitants—Jews, Persians, Mohammedans, and Christians. It +is looked upon by the Arabs as one of the most delightful spots in +Asia. The commerce of Bussorah consisted in the interchange of rice, +sugar, spices from Ceylon, coarse white and blue cottons from +Coromandel, cardamom, pepper, sandalwood from Malabar, gold and silver +stuffs, brocades, turbans, shawls, indigo from Surat, pearls from +Bahara, coffee from Mocha, iron, lead, woolen cloths, etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> "There is a city in Upper Egypt (Ishmonie), called the +petrified city, on account of a great number of statues of men, women, +and children, and other animals, which are said to be seen thereat +this day; all which, as it is believed by the inhabitants, were once +animated beings, but were miraculously changed into stone in all the +various positions of falling, standing, eating, sitting, which they +acted at the instant of their supposed transubstantiation. We did not +fail to inquire after these things, and desired to have a sight of +them; but they told us they were in a certain part, pointing westward, +but were too sacred to be seen by any except believers."—Perry's +<i>View of the Levant.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Koran (derived from the word Karaa, to read) signifies +"the Reading—that which ought to be read." It is the collection of +revelations supposed to be given from heaven to Mohammed during a +period of twenty-three years. Some were given at Mecca, and some at +Medina. Each was regarded by some as a mystery full of divine meaning. +It is divided into thirty parts; and as each mosque has thirty +readers, it is read through once a day. These readers chant it in long +lines with rhythmical ending, and in the absence of definite vowels +they alone know the right pronunciation of the Koran.—Sale's +<i>Preliminary Dissertation</i>, p. 56.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> This is the <i>kaaba</i> or <i>kebla</i>, a sacred stone in the +center of the temple at Mecca, over which is a lofty building, from +which the name is by some said to be derived—Caaba, high. Mr. +Ferguson, in his account of "The Holy Sepulcher," thus describes it: +"The precept of the Koran is, that all men, when they pray, shall turn +toward the <i>kaaba</i>, or holy house, at Mecca; and consequently +throughout the Moslem world, indicators have been put up to enable the +Faithful to fulfill this condition. In India they face west, in +Barbary east, in Syria south. It is true that when rich men, or kings, +built mosques, they frequently covered the face of this wall with +arcades, to shelter the worshiper from the sun or rain. They inclosed +it in a court that his meditations might not be disturbed by the +noises of the outside world. They provided it with fountains, that he +might perform the required ablutions before prayer. But still the +essential part of the mosques is the <i>mihrab</i> or niche, which points +toward Mecca, and toward which, when he bows, the worshiper knows that +the <i>kaaba</i> also is before him." The holy house erected over the +<i>kaaba</i> was decorated annually with rich tapestries and a deep golden +band, at the cost of the caliphs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> Bismillah. All the chapters of the Koran, except nine, +begin with this word. Its meaning is, "In the name of the merciful +God." It is said to be frequently used in conversation by the +Arabs.—Sale's <i>Preliminary Dissertation</i>, p. 153.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> For the choice of a wife a man generally relies on his +mother, or some other near relation, or a professional female +betrother (who is called, <i>khatebeh</i>), for there are women who perform +this office for hire.—Lane's Notes to the <i>Arabian Nights</i>, Vol. I, +iv, p. 285.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> Marriage among the Mohammedans is an exclusively civil +ceremony; and therefore the cadi, a civil judge, and not an imaun, or +minister of religion, was summoned.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> "No woman, of what rank soever, is permitted to go into +the streets without two muslins; one that covers her face all but her +eyes, and another that hides the whole dress of her head, and hangs +halfway down her back. Their shapes are also wholly concealed by a +thing they call a <i>ferigee</i>, which no woman appears without. This has +straight sleeves, that reach to their finger ends, and it laps all +round them, not unlike a riding-hood. In winter it is of cloth, and in +summer, of plain stuff or silk."—Lady M. W. Montague's <i>Letters</i>, +Vol. VII, p. 373.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> The streets of Eastern cities are often so narrow as to +be blocked up with a wide camel load, or to prevent two horsemen +riding abreast. This is the cause of those footmen who run before +great men to prepare the way for them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> The Mussulmans are allowed by the Koran to beat their +wives, so long as they do not make a bruise. The husband on this +occasion must have broken the law. +</p><p> +Some such permission was given by an English judge, Sir John Buller; +who declared the stick used must not be thicker than his thumb, from +whence he obtained the sobriquet of "Thumb Buller."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="STORY_OF_THE_THREE_SISTERS" id="STORY_OF_THE_THREE_SISTERS"></a>STORY OF THE THREE SISTERS</h2> + + +<p>There was an emperor of Persia, named Khoonoo-shah. He often walked in +disguise through the city, attended by a trusty minister, when he met +with many adventures. On one of these occasions, as he was passing +through a street in that part of the town inhabited only by the meaner +sort, he heard some people talking very loud; and going close to the +house whence the noise proceeded, he perceived a light, and three +sisters sitting on a sofa, conversing together after supper. By what +the eldest said, he presently understood the subject of their +conversation was wishes: "For," said she, "since we have got upon +wishes, mine shall be to have the sultan's baker for my husband, for +then I shall eat my fill of that bread which by way of excellence is +called the sultan's. Let us see if your tastes are as good as mine."</p> + +<p>"For my part," replied the second sister, "I wish I was wife to the +sultan's chief cook, for then I should eat of the most excellent +dishes; and, as I believe the sultan's bread is common in the palace, +I should not want any of that. Therefore, you see," addressing herself +to her eldest sister, "that I have better taste than you."</p> + +<p>The youngest sister, who was very beautiful, and had more charms and +wit than the two elder, spoke in her turn: "For my part, sisters," +said she, "I shall not limit my desires to such trifles, but take a +higher flight; and since we are upon wishing, I wish to be the +emperor's queen consort. I would make him father of a prince<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> whose +hair should be gold on one side of his head, and silver on the other; +when he cried, the tears from his eyes should be pearl; and when he +smiled, his vermilion lips should look like a rose-bud fresh blown."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_5" id="pic_5"></a> +<img src="images/image_011.jpg" width="500" height="736" alt="The gardener, with a rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket to the side of the canal." title="The gardener, with a rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket to the side of the canal." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">The gardener, with a rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket to the side of the canal. <a href="#Page_122">Page 122</a></span></div> + +<p>The three sisters' wishes, particularly that of the youngest, seemed +so singular to the sultan that he resolved to gratify them in their +desires; but without communicating his design to his grand vizier he +charged him only to take notice of the house, and bring the three +sisters before him the following day.</p> + +<p>The grand vizier, in executing the emperor's orders, would give the +sisters but just time to dress themselves to appear before him, +without telling them the reason. He brought them to the palace and +presented them to the emperor, who said to them, "Do you remember the +wishes you expressed last night, when you were all in so pleasant a +mood? Speak the truth; I must know what they were."</p> + +<p>At these unexpected words of the emperor the three sisters were much +confounded. They cast down their eyes and blushed. Modesty, and fear +lest they might have offended the emperor by their conversation, kept +them silent.</p> + +<p>The emperor, perceiving their confusion, said, to encourage them, +"Fear nothing; I did not send for you to distress you; and since I see +that, without my intending it, is the effect of the question I asked, +as I know the wish of each I will relieve you from your fears. You," +added he, "who wished to be my wife shall have your desire this day; +and you," continued he, addressing himself to the two elder sisters, +"shall also be married, to my chief baker and cook."</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>The nuptials were all celebrated that day, as the emperor had +resolved, but in a different manner. The youngest sister's were +solemnized with all the rejoicings usual at the marriages of the +emperors of Persia; and those of the other two sisters according to +the quality and distinction of their husbands; the one as the sultan's +chief baker, and the other as head cook.</p> + +<p>The two elder sisters felt strongly the disproportion of their +marriages to that of their younger sister. This consideration made +them far from being content, though they were arrived at the utmost +height of their late wishes, and much beyond their hopes. They gave +themselves up to an excess of jealousy, and frequently met together to +consult how they might revenge themselves on the queen. They proposed +a great many ways, which they could not accomplish, but dissimulated +all the time to flatter the queen with every demonstration of +affection and respect.</p> + +<p>Some months after her marriage, the queen gave birth to a young +prince, as bright as the day; but her sisters, to whom the child was +given at his birth, wrapped him up in a basket and floated it away on +a canal that ran near the palace, and declared that the queen had +given birth to a little dog. This made the emperor very angry.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the basket in which the little prince was exposed was +carried by the stream toward the garden of the palace. By chance the +intendant of the emperor's gardens, one of the principal and most +considerable officers of the kingdom, was walking by the side of this +canal, and perceiving a basket floating called to a gardener, who was +not far off, to bring it to shore that he might see what it contained. +The gardener,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> with a rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket +to the side of the canal, took it up, and gave it to him.</p> + +<p>The intendant of the gardens was extremely surprised to see in the +basket a child, which, though he knew it could be but just born, had +very fine features. This officer had been married several years, but +though he had always been desirous of having children, Heaven had +never blessed him with any. He made the gardener follow him with the +child; and when he came to his own house, which was situated at the +entrance into the gardens of the palace, went into his wife's +apartment. "Wife," said he, "as we have no children of our own, God +hath sent us one. I recommend him to you; provide him a nurse, and +take as much care of him as if he were our own son; for, from this +moment, I acknowledge him as such." The intendant's wife received the +child with great joy.</p> + +<p>The following year the queen consort gave birth to another prince, on +whom the unnatural sisters had no more compassion than on his brother; +but exposed him likewise in a basket, and set him adrift in the canal, +pretending this time that the sultaness was delivered of a cat. It was +happy also for this child that the intendant of the gardens was +walking by the canal side. He carried this child to his wife, and +charged her to take as much care of it as of the former, which was as +agreeable to her inclination as it was to that of the intendant.</p> + +<p>This time the Emperor of Persia was more enraged against the queen +than before, and she had felt the effects of his anger, as the grand +vizier's remonstrances had not prevailed.</p> + +<p>The next year the queen gave birth to a princess,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> which innocent babe +underwent the same fate as the princes her brothers; for the two +sisters, being determined not to desist from their detestable schemes +till they had seen the queen their younger sister at least cast off, +turned out, and humbled, exposed this infant also on the canal. But +the princess, as had been the two princes her brothers, preserved from +death by the compassion and charity of the intendant of the gardens.</p> + +<p>To this inhumanity the two sisters added a lie and deceit, as before. +They procured a piece of wood, of which they said the queen had been +delivered.</p> + +<p>Khoonoo-shah could no longer contain himself at this third +disappointment. He ordered a small shed to be built near the chief +mosque, and the queen to be confined in it, so that she might be +subjected to the scorn of those who passed by; which usage, as she did +not deserve it, she bore with a patient resignation that excited the +admiration as well as compassion of those who judged of things better +than the vulgar.</p> + +<p>The two princes and the princess were in the meantime nursed and +brought up by the intendant of the gardens and his wife with all the +tenderness of a father and mother; and as they advanced in age, they +all showed marks of superior dignity, by a certain air which could +only belong to exalted birth. All this increased the affection of the +intendant and his wife, who called the eldest prince Bahman, and the +second Perviz, both of them names of the most ancient emperors of +Persia, and the princess Perie-zadeh, which name also had been borne +by several queens and princesses of the kingdom.<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> +<p>As soon as the two princes were old enough, the intendant provided +proper masters to teach them to read and write; and the princess, +their sister, who was often with them—showing a great desire to +learn—the intendant, pleased with her quickness, employed the same +master to teach her also. Her emulation, vivacity, and wit made her in +a little time as proficient as her brothers. At the hours of +recreation, the princess learned to sing and to play upon all sorts of +instruments; and when the princes were learning to ride, she would not +permit them to have that advantage over her, but went through all the +exercises with them, learning to ride also, to bend the bow, and dart +the reed or javelin, and oftentimes outdid them in the race and other +contests of agility.</p> + +<p>The intendant of the gardens was so overjoyed to find his adopted +children so well requited the expense he had been at in their +education, that he resolved to be at a still greater; for as he had +till then been content only with his lodge at the entrance to the +garden, and kept no country house, he purchased a country seat at a +short distance from the city, surrounded by a large tract of arable +land, meadows, and woods, and furnished it in the richest manner, and +added gardens, according to a plan drawn by himself, and a large park, +stocked with fallow deer, that the princes and princess might divert +themselves with hunting when they chose.</p> + +<p>When this country seat was finished, the intendant of the gardens went +and cast himself at the emperor's feet, and after representing his +long service and the infirmities of age, which he found growing upon +him, begged permission to resign his charge and retire. The emperor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +gave him leave, and asked what he should do to recompense him. "Sire," +replied the intendant of the gardens, "I have received so many +obligations from your majesty and the late emperor your father, of +happy memory, that I desire no more than the honor of being assured of +your continued favor."</p> + +<p>He took his leave of the emperor, and retired with the two princes and +the princess to the country retreat he had built. His wife had been +dead some years, and he himself had not lived in his new abode above +six months when he was surprised by so sudden a death that he had not +time to give them the least account of the manner in which he had +saved them from destruction.</p> + +<p>The Princes Bahman and Perviz, and the Princess Perie-zadeh, who knew +no other father than the intendant of the emperor's gardens, regretted +and bewailed him as such, and paid all the honors in his funeral +obsequies which love and filial gratitude required of them. Satisfied +with the plentiful fortune he had left them, they lived together in +perfect union, free from the ambition of distinguishing themselves at +court, or aspiring to places of honor and dignity, which they might +easily have obtained.</p> + +<p>One day when the two princes were hunting, and the princess had +remained at home, an old woman, a devotee, came to the gate, and +desired leave to go in to say her prayers, it being then the hour. The +servants asked the princess's permission, who ordered them to show her +into the oratory, which the intendant of the emperor's gardens had +taken care to fit up in his house, for want of a mosque in the +neighborhood. After the good woman had finished her prayers, she was +brought before the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> princess in the great hall, which in beauty and +richness exceeded all the other apartments.</p> + +<p>As soon as the princess saw the devout woman, she asked her many +questions upon the exercise of devotion which she practiced, and how +she lived; all which were answered with great modesty. Talking of +several things, at last she asked the woman what she thought of the +house, and how she liked it.</p> + +<p>"Madam," answered the devout woman, "if you will give me leave to +speak my mind freely, I will take the liberty to tell you that this +house would be incomparable if it had three things which are wanting +to complete it. The first of these three things is the speaking-bird, +so singular a creature that it draws around it all the singing-birds +in the neighborhood, which come to accompany his song. The second is +the singing-tree, the leaves of which are so many mouths, which form +an harmonious concert of different voices, and never cease. The third +is the yellow-water of a gold color, a single drop of which being +poured into a vessel properly prepared, it increases so as to fill it +immediately, and rises up in the middle like a fountain, which +continually plays, and yet the basin never overflows."</p> + +<p>"Ah! my good mother," cried the princess, "how much am I obliged to +you for the knowledge of these curiosities! They are surprising, and I +never before heard there were such wonderful rarities in the world; +but as I am persuaded that you know, I expect that you will do me the +favor to inform me where they are to be found."</p> + +<p>"Madam," replied the good woman, "I am glad to tell you that these +curiosities are all to be met with in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> the same spot on the confines +of this kingdom, toward India. The road lies before your house, and +whoever you send needs but follow it for twenty days, and on the +twentieth let him only ask the first person he meets where the +speaking-bird, singing-tree, and yellow-water are, and he will be +informed."</p> + +<p>After saying this she rose from her seat, took her leave, and went her +way.</p> + +<p>The Princess Perie-zadeh's thoughts were so absorbed in her desire to +obtain possession of these three wonders, that her brothers, on their +return from hunting, instead of finding her lively and gay, as she +used to be, were amazed to see her pensive and melancholy, and weighed +down by some trouble.</p> + +<p>"Sister," said Prince Bahman, "what has become of all your mirth and +gayety? Are you not well? Or has some misfortune befallen you? Tell us +that we may give you some relief."</p> + +<p>The princess at first returned no answer to these inquiries; but on +being pressed by her brothers, thus replied: "I always believed that +this house which our father built us was so complete that nothing was +wanting. But this day I have learned that it wants three rarities, the +speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and the yellow-water. If it had +these, no country seat in the world could be compared with it." Then +she informed them wherein consisted the excellency of these rarities, +and requested her brothers to send some trustworthy person in search +of these three curiosities.</p> + +<p>"Sister," replied Prince Bahman, "it is enough that you have an +earnest desire for the things you mention to oblige us to try to +obtain them. I will take that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> charge upon myself; only tell me the +place, and the way to it, and I will set out to-morrow. You, brother, +shall stay at home with our sister, and I commend her to your care."</p> + +<p>Prince Bahman spent the remainder of the day in making preparations +for his journey, and informing himself from the princess of the +directions which the devout woman had left her. The next morning he +mounted his horse, and Perviz and the princess embraced him and wished +him a good journey. But in the midst of their adieus, the princess +recollected what she had not thought of before.</p> + +<p>"Brother," said she, "I had quite forgotten the perils to which you +may be exposed. Who knows whether I shall ever see you again! Alight, +I beseech you, and give up this journey. I would rather be deprived of +the sight and possession of the speaking-bird, singing-tree, and +yellow-water, than run the risk of never seeing you more."</p> + +<p>"Sister," replied Bahman, smiling at the sudden fears of the princess, +"my resolution is fixed, and you must allow me to execute it. However, +as events are uncertain, and I may fail in this undertaking, all I can +do is to leave you this knife. It has a peculiar property. If when you +pull it out of the sheath it is clean as it is now, it will be a sign +that I am alive; but if you find it stained with blood, then you may +believe me to be dead."</p> + +<p>The princess could prevail nothing more with Bahman. He bade adieu to +her and Prince Perviz for the last time, and rode away. When he got +into the road, he never turned to the right hand nor to the left, but +went directly forward toward India. The twentieth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> day he perceived on +the roadside a very singular old man, who sat under a tree some small +distance from a thatched house, which was his retreat from the +weather.</p> + +<p>His eyebrows were as white as snow, as was also his beard, which was +so long as to cover his mouth, while it reached down to his feet. The +nails of his hands and feet were grown to an immense length; a flat +broad umbrella covered his head. He wore no clothes, but only a mat +thrown round his body.</p> + +<p>This old man was a dervish, for many years retired from the world, and +devoted to contemplation, so that at last he became what we have +described.</p> + +<p>Prince Bahman, who had been all that morning expecting to meet some +one who could give him information of the place he was in search of, +stopped when he came near the dervish, alighted, in conformity to the +directions which the devout woman had given the Princess Perie-zadeh, +and, leading his horse by the bridle, advanced toward him, and +saluting him, said, "God prolong your days, good father, and grant you +the accomplishment of your desires."</p> + +<p>The dervish returned the prince's salutation, but spoke so +unintelligibly that he could not understand one word he said. Prince +Bahman perceiving that this difficulty proceeded from the dervish's +hair hanging over his mouth, and unwilling to go any farther without +the instructions he wanted, pulled out a pair of scissors he had about +him, and having tied his horse to a branch of the tree, said, "Good +dervish, I want to have some talk with you, but your hair prevents my +understanding what you say, and if you will consent, I will cut off +some part of it and of your eyebrows, which disfigure you so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> much +that you look more like a bear than a man."</p> + +<p>The dervish did not oppose the offer; and when the prince had cut off +as much hair as he thought fit, he perceived that the dervish had a +good complexion, and that he did not seem so very old.</p> + +<p>"Good dervish," said he, "if I had a glass I would show you how young +you look: you are now a man, but before nobody could tell what you +were."</p> + +<p>The kind behavior of Prince Bahman made the dervish smile, and return +his compliment.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said he, "whoever you are, I am obliged by the good office you +have performed, and am ready to show my gratitude by doing anything in +my power for you. Tell me wherein I may serve you."</p> + +<p>"Good dervish," replied Prince Bahman, "I am in search of the +speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and the yellow-water. I know these +three rarities are not far from here, but cannot tell exactly the +place where they are to be found; if you know, I conjure you to show +me the way, that I may not lose my labor after so long a journey."</p> + +<p>The prince, while he spoke, observed that the dervish changed +countenance, held down his eyes, looked very serious, and instead of +making any reply, remained silent: which obliged him to say to him +again, "Good father, tell me whether you know what I ask you, that I +may not lose my time, but inform myself somewhere else."</p> + +<p>At last the dervish broke silence. "Sir," said he to Prince Bahman, "I +know the way you ask of me; but the danger you are going to expose +yourself to is greater than you may suppose. A number of gentlemen of +as much bravery and courage as yourself have passed this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> way, and +asked me the same question. I can assure you they have all perished, +for I have not seen one come back. Therefore, if you have any regard +for your life, take my advice, go no farther, but return home."</p> + +<p>"Nothing," replied Prince Bahman to the dervish, "shall make me change +my intention. Whoever attacks me, I am brave and well armed."</p> + +<p>"But they who will attack you are not to be seen," said the dervish. +"How will you defend yourself against invisible persons?"</p> + +<p>"It is no matter," answered the prince; "all you can say shall not +persuade me to forego my purpose. Since you know the way, I once more +conjure you to inform me."</p> + +<p>When the dervish found he could not prevail upon Prince Bahman to +relinquish his journey, he put his hand into a bag that lay by him and +pulled out a bowl, which he presented to him. "Since you will not be +led by my advice," said he, "take this bowl: when you have mounted +your horse, throw it before you, and follow it to the foot of a +mountain. There, as soon as the bowl stops, alight, leave your horse +with the bridle over his neck, and he will stand in the same place +till you return. As you ascend you will see on your right and left a +great number of large black stones, and will hear on all sides a +confusion of voices, which will utter a thousand injurious threats to +discourage you, and prevent your reaching the summit of the mountain. +Be not afraid; but above all things, do not turn your head to look +behind you; for in an instant you will be changed into such a black +stone as those you see, which are all youths who have failed in this +enterprise. If you escape the danger, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> which I give you but a faint +idea, and get to the top of the mountain, you will see a cage, and in +that cage is the bird you seek; ask him which are the singing-tree and +the yellow-water, and he will tell you. I have nothing more to say, +except to beg you again not to expose your life, for the difficulty is +almost insuperable."</p> + +<p>After these words, the prince mounted his horse, took his leave of the +dervish with a respectful salute, and threw the bowl before him.</p> + +<p>The bowl rolled away unceasingly, with as much swiftness as when +Prince Bahman first hurled it from his hand, which obliged him to put +his horse to the gallop to avoid losing sight of it, and when it had +reached the foot of the mountain it stopped. The prince alighted from +his horse, laid the bridle on his neck, and, having first surveyed the +mountain and seen the black stones, began to ascend. He had not gone +four steps before he heard the voices mentioned by the dervish, though +he could see nobody. Some one said, "Where is he going?" "What would +he have?" "Do not let him pass"; others, "Stop him," "Catch him," +"Kill him"; and others, with a voice like thunder, "Thief!" +"Assassin!" "Murderer!" while some, in a gibing tone, cried, "No, no, +do not hurt him; let the pretty fellow pass. The cage and bird are +kept for him."</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding all these troublesome voices, Prince Bahman ascended +with courage and resolution for some time, but the voices redoubled +with so loud a din near him, both behind, before, and on all sides, +that at last he was seized with dread, his legs trembled under him, he +staggered, and finding that his strength failed him, he forgot the +dervish's advice, turned about to run<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> down the hill, and was that +instant changed into a black stone. His horse likewise, at the same +moment, underwent the same change.</p> + +<p>From the time of Prince Bahman's departure, the Princess Perie-zadeh +always wore the knife and sheath in her girdle, and pulled it out +several times a day, to know whether her brother was yet alive. She +had the consolation to find he was in perfect health, and to talk of +him frequently with Prince Perviz.</p> + +<p>On the fatal day that Prince Bahman was transformed into a stone, as +Prince Perviz and the princess were talking together in the evening, +as usual, the prince desired his sister to pull out the knife to know +how their brother did. The princess readily complied, and seeing the +blood run down the point, was seized with so much horror that she +threw it down.</p> + +<p>"Ah! my dear brother," cried she, "woe's me! I have been the cause of +your death, and shall never see you more! Why did I tell you of the +speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and yellow-water! Why did I allow my +peace to be disturbed by the idle tales of a silly old woman!"</p> + +<p>Prince Perviz was as much afflicted at the death of Prince Bahman as +the princess; but as he knew that she still passionately desired +possession of the speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and the +golden-water, he interrupted her, saying, "Sister, our regret for our +brother is vain and useless; our grief and lamentations cannot restore +him to life. It is the will of God. We must submit to it, and adore +the decrees of the Almighty without searching into them. Why should +you now doubt of the truth of what the holy woman told you? Our +brother's death<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> is probably owing to some error on his part. I am +determined to know the truth, and am resolved myself to undertake this +search. To-morrow I shall set out."</p> + +<p>The princess did all she could to dissuade Prince Perviz, conjuring +him not to expose her to the danger of losing two brothers; but all +the remonstrances she could urge had no effect upon him. Before he +went, that she might know what success he had, he left her a string of +a hundred pearls, telling her, that if they would not run when she +should count them upon the string, but remain fixed, that would be a +certain sign he had undergone the same fate as his brother; but at the +same time told her he hoped it would never happen, but that he should +have the happiness to see her again to their mutual satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day after his departure, met the same +dervish in the same place as had his brother Bahman before him, and +asked of him the same question. The dervish urged the same +difficulties and remonstrances as he had done to Prince Bahman, +telling him that a young gentleman, who very much resembled him, was +with him a short time before, and had not yet returned.</p> + +<p>"Good dervish," answered Prince Perviz, "I know whom you speak of; he +was my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty of his death, +but know not the cause."</p> + +<p>"I can tell you," replied the dervish. "He was changed into a black +stone, as all I speak of have been; and you must expect the same fate +unless you observe more exactly than he has done the advice I gave +him; but I once more entreat you to renounce your resolution."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dervish," said Prince Perviz, "I cannot sufficiently express how much +I am obliged to you for your kind caution; but I cannot now relinquish +this enterprise; therefore I beg of you to do me the same favor you +have done my brother."</p> + +<p>On this the dervish gave the prince a bowl with the same instructions +he had delivered to his brother, and so let him depart.</p> + +<p>Prince Perviz thanked the dervish, and when he had remounted, and +taken leave, threw the bowl before his horse, and spurring him at the +same time, followed it. When the bowl came to the bottom of the hill +it stopped, the prince alighted, and stood some time to recollect the +dervish's directions. He encouraged himself, and then began to walk up +with a determination to reach the summit; but before he had gone above +six steps, he heard a voice, which seemed to be near, as of a man +behind him, say in an insulting tone, "Stay, rash youth, that I may +punish you for your presumption."</p> + +<p>Upon this affront, the prince, forgetting the dervish's advice, +clapped his hand upon his sword, drew it, and turned about to avenge +himself; but had scarcely time to see that nobody followed him before +he and his horse were changed into black stones.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the Princess Perie-zadeh, several times a day after +her brother's departure, counted her chaplet. She did not omit it at +night, but when she went to bed put it about her neck; and in the +morning when she awoke counted over the pearls again to see if they +would slide.</p> + +<p>The day that Prince Perviz was transformed into a stone she was +counting over the pearls as she used to do,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> when all at once they +became immovably fixed, a certain token that the prince, her brother, +was dead. As she had determined what to do in case it should so +happen, she lost no time in outward demonstrations of grief, but +proceeded at once to put her plan into execution. She disguised +herself in her brother's robes, and having procured arms and equipment +she mounted her horse the next morning. Telling her servants she +should return in two or three days, she took the same road as her +brothers.</p> + +<p>On the twentieth day she also met the dervish as her brothers had +done, and asked him the same question and received from him the same +answer, with a caution against the folly of sacrificing her life in +such a search.</p> + +<p>When the dervish had done, the princess replied, "By what I comprehend +from your discourse, the difficulties of succeeding in this affair +are, first, the getting up to the cage without being frightened at the +terrible din of voices I shall hear; and, secondly, not to look behind +me. For this last direction, I hope I shall be mistress enough of +myself to observe it. As to the first, I desire to know of you if I +may use a stratagem against those voices which you describe, and which +are so well calculated to excite terror."</p> + +<p>"And what stratagem is it you would employ?" said the dervish.</p> + +<p>"To stop my ears with cotton," answered the princess, "that the +voices, however loud and terrible, may make the less impression upon +my imagination, and my mind remain free from that disturbance which +might cause me to lose the use of my reason."</p> + +<p>"Princess," replied the dervish, "if you persist in your design, you +may make the experiment. You will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> be fortunate if it succeeds; but I +would advise you not to expose yourself to the danger."</p> + +<p>After the princess had thanked the dervish, and taken her leave of +him, she mounted her horse, threw down the bowl which he had given +her, and followed it till it stopped at the foot of the mountain.</p> + +<p>The princess alighted, stopped her ears with cotton, and after she had +well examined the path leading to the summit, began with a moderate +pace, and walked up with intrepidity. She heard the voices, and +perceived the great service the cotton was to her. The higher she +went, the louder and more numerous the voices seemed; but they were +not capable of making any impression upon her. She heard a great many +affronting speeches and insulting accusations, which she only laughed +at. At last she saw the cage and the bird, while at the same moment +the clamor and thunders of the invisible voices greatly increased.</p> + +<p>The princess, encouraged by the sight of the object of which she was +in search, redoubled her speed, and soon gained the summit of the +mountain, where the ground was level; then running directly to the +cage, and clapping her hand upon it, cried, "Bird, I have you, and you +shall not escape me."</p> + +<p>At the same moment the voices ceased.</p> + +<p>While Perie-zadeh was pulling the cotton out of her ears the bird said +to her, "Heroic princess, since I am destined to be a slave, I would +rather be yours than any other person's, since you have obtained me so +courageously. From this instant I pay an entire submission to all your +commands. I know who you are, for you are not what you seem, and I +will one day tell you more.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> In the meantime, say what you desire, and +I am ready to obey you."</p> + +<p>"Bird," said Perie-zadeh, "I have been told that there is not far off +a golden-water, the property of which is very wonderful; before all +things, I ask you to tell me where it is."</p> + +<p>The bird showed her the place, which was just by, and she went and +filled a little silver flagon which she had brought with her. She +returned to the bird, and said, "Bird, this is not enough; I want also +the singing-tree. Tell me where it is."</p> + +<p>"Turn about," said the bird, "and you will see behind you a wood, +where you will find this tree. Break off a branch, and carry it to +plant in your garden; it will take root as soon as it is put into the +earth, and in a little time will grow to a fine tree."</p> + +<p>The princess went into the wood, and by the harmonious concert she +heard, soon discovered the singing-tree.</p> + +<p>When the princess had obtained possession of the branch of the +singing-tree, she returned again to the bird, and said, "Bird, what +you have yet done for me is not sufficient. My two brothers, in their +search for thee, have been transformed into black stones on the side +of the mountain. Tell me how I may obtain their dis-enchantment."</p> + +<p>The bird seemed most reluctant to inform the princess on this point; +but on her threatening to take his life, he bade her sprinkle every +stone on her way down the mountain with a little of the water from the +golden fountain. She did so, and every stone she thus touched resumed +the shape of a man or of a horse ready<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> caparisoned. Among these were +her two brothers, Bahman and Perviz, who exchanged with her the most +affectionate embraces.</p> + +<p>Having explained to her brothers and the band of noble youths who had +been enchanted in their search after these three wonders, the means of +their recovery, Perie-zadeh placed herself at their head, and bade +them follow her to the old dervish, to thank him for his reception and +wholesome advice, which they had all found to be sincere. But he was +dead, whether from old age or because he was no longer needed to show +the way to the obtaining the three rarities which the Princess +Perie-zadeh had secured, did not appear. The procession, headed by +Perie-zadeh, pursued its route, but lessened in its numbers every day. +The youths, who had come from different countries, took leave of the +princess and her brothers one after another, as they approached the +various roads by which they had come.</p> + +<p>As soon as the princess reached home, she placed the cage in the +garden; and the bird no sooner began to warble than he was surrounded +by nightingales, chaffinches, larks, linnets, goldfinches, and every +species of birds of the country. And the branch of the singing-tree +was no sooner set in the midst of the parterre, a little distance from +the house, than it took root, and in a short time became a large tree, +the leaves of which gave as harmonious a concert as those of the tree +from which it was gathered. A large basin of beautiful marble was +placed in the garden; and when it was finished the princess poured +into it all the yellow-water from the flagon, which instantly +increased and swelled so much that it soon reached up to the edges of +the basin,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> and afterward formed in the middle a fountain twenty feet +high which fell again into the basin perpetually without running over.</p> + +<p>The report of these wonders was presently spread abroad, and as the +gates of the house and those of the gardens were shut to nobody, a +great number of people came to admire them.</p> + +<p>Some days after, when the Princes Bahman and Perviz had recovered from +the fatigue of their journey, they resumed their former way of living; +and as their usual diversion was hunting, they mounted their horses +and went for the first time since their return, not to their own +demesne, but two or three leagues from their house. As they pursued +their sport, the Emperor of Persia came in pursuit of game upon the +same ground. When they perceived by the number of horsemen in +different places that he would soon be up, they resolved to +discontinue their chase, and retire to avoid encountering him; but in +the very road they took they chanced to meet him in so narrow a way +that they could not retreat without being seen. In their surprise they +had only time to alight, and prostrate themselves before the emperor. +He stopped and commanded them to rise. The princes rose up, and stood +before him with an easy and graceful air. The emperor, after he had +admired their good air and mien, asked them who they were, and where +they lived.</p> + +<p>"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we are the sons of the late intendant of +your majesty's gardens, and live in a house which he built a little +before he died, till it should please you to give us some employment."</p> + +<p>"By what I perceive," replied the emperor, "you love hunting."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "it is our common exercise, and what +none of your majesty's subjects who intend to bear arms in your armies +ought, according to the ancient custom of the kingdom, to neglect."</p> + +<p>The emperor, charmed with so prudent an answer, said, "It is so, and I +should be glad to see your expertness in the chase; choose your own +game."</p> + +<p>The princes mounted their horses again, and followed the emperor; but +had not gone far before they saw many wild beasts together. Prince +Bahman chose a lion, and Prince Perviz a bear; and pursued them with +so much intrepidity, that the emperor was surprised. They came up with +their game nearly at the same time, and darted their javelins with so +much skill and address, that they pierced, the one the lion and the +other the bear, so effectually that the emperor saw them fall one +after the other. Immediately afterward Prince Bahman pursued another +bear, and Prince Perviz another lion, and killed them in a short time, +and would have beaten out for fresh game, but the emperor would not +let them, and sent to them to come to him.</p> + +<p>When they approached, he said, "If I would have given you leave, you +would soon have destroyed all my game; but it is not that which I +would preserve, but your persons; for I am so well assured your +bravery may one time or other be serviceable to me, that from this +moment your lives will be always dear to me."</p> + +<p>The emperor, in short, conceived so great a fondness for the two +princes that he invited them immediately to make him a visit; to which +Prince Bahman replied, "Your majesty does us an honor we do not +deserve; and we beg you will excuse us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>The emperor, who could not comprehend what reason the princes could +have to refuse this token of his favor, pressed them to tell him why +they excused themselves.</p> + +<p>"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we have a sister younger than ourselves, +with whom we live in such perfect union that we undertake nothing +before we consult her, nor she anything without asking our advice."</p> + +<p>"I commend your brotherly affection," answered the emperor. "Consult +your sister, then meet me here to-morrow, and give me an answer."</p> + +<p>The princes went home, but neglected to speak of their adventure in +meeting the emperor, and hunting with him, and also of the honor he +had done them by asking them to go home with him; yet did not the next +morning fail to meet him at the place appointed.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the emperor, "have you spoken to your sister? And has she +consented to the pleasure I expect of seeing you?"</p> + +<p>The two princes looked at each other and blushed.</p> + +<p>"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we beg your majesty to excuse us; for +both my brother and I forgot."</p> + +<p>"Then remember to-day," replied the emperor, "and be sure to bring me +an answer to-morrow."</p> + +<p>The princes were guilty of the same fault a second time, and the +emperor was so good-natured as to forgive their negligence; but to +prevent their forgetfulness the third time, he pulled three little +golden balls out of a purse, and put them into Prince Bahman's bosom.</p> + +<p>"These balls," said he, smiling, "will prevent you forgetting a third +time what I wish you to do, since the noise they will make by falling +on the floor, when you undress, will remind you, if you do not +recollect it before."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>The event happened just as the emperor foresaw; and without these +balls the princes had not thought of speaking to their sister of this +affair. For as Prince Bahman unloosened his girdle to go to bed the +balls dropped on the floor, upon which he ran into Prince Perviz's +chamber, when both went into the Princess Perie-zadeh's apartment, and +after they had asked her pardon for coming at so unseasonable a time, +they told her all the circumstances of their meeting the emperor.</p> + +<p>The princess was somewhat surprised at this intelligence. "It was on +my account, I know," she said, "you refused the emperor, and I am +infinitely obliged to you for doing so. For, my dear brothers, I know +by this your affection for me is equal to my own. But you know +monarchs will be obeyed in their desires, and it may be dangerous to +oppose them; therefore, if to follow my inclination I should dissuade +you from showing the complaisance the emperor expects from you, it may +expose you to his resentment, and may render myself and you miserable. +These are my sentiments; but before we conclude upon anything let us +consult the speaking-bird, and hear what he says; he is wise, and has +promised his assistance in all difficulties."</p> + +<p>The princess sent for the cage, and after she had related the +circumstances to the bird in the presence of her brothers, asked him +what they should do in this perplexity.</p> + +<p>The bird answered,<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> "The princes, your brothers, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>must conform to +the emperor's pleasure, and in their turn invite him to come and see +your house."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_6" id="pic_6"></a> +<img src="images/image_013.jpg" width="500" height="734" alt="He presently discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave into the princess's hands." title="He presently discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave into the princess's hands." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">He presently discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave into the princess's hands. <a href="#anch_5">Page 147</a></span></div> + +<p>Next morning the princes met the emperor again, who called and asked +them, while they were yet afar off, if they had remembered to speak to +their sister. Prince Bahman approached, and answered, "Sire, your +majesty may dispose of us as you please. We are ready to obey you; for +we have not only obtained our sister's consent with great ease, but +she took it amiss that we should pay her that deference in a matter +wherein our duty to your majesty was concerned. But if we have +offended, we hope you will pardon us."</p> + +<p>"Do not be uneasy on that account," replied the emperor. "So far from +taking amiss what you have done, I highly approve of your conduct, and +hope you will have the same deference and attachment to my person, if +I have ever so little share in your friendship."</p> + +<p>The princes, confounded at the emperor's goodness, returned no other +answer but a low obeisance, to show the great respect with which they +received it.</p> + +<p>The emperor gave orders to return at once to his palace. He made the +princes ride one on each side of him, an honor which grieved the grand +vizier, who was much mortified to see them preferred before him.</p> + +<p>When the emperor entered his capital, the eyes of the people, who +stood in crowds in the streets, were fixed upon the two Princes Bahman +and Perviz; and they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>were earnest to know who they might be, +whether foreigners or natives, and many wished that the emperor had +been blessed with two such handsome princes.</p> + + + +<p>The first thing that the emperor did when he arrived at his palace was +to conduct the princes into the principal apartments. With due +discrimination, like persons conversant in such matters, they praised +the beauty and symmetry of the rooms, and the richness of the +furniture and ornaments. Afterward, a magnificent repast was served +up, and the emperor made them sit with him, and was so much pleased +with the wit, judgment, and discernment shown by the two princes that +he said, "Were these my own children, and I had improved their talents +by suitable education, they could not have been more accomplished or +better informed."</p> + +<p>When night approached, the two princes prostrated themselves at the +emperor's feet; and having thanked him for the favors he had heaped +upon them, asked his permission to retire, which was granted by the +emperor.</p> + +<p>Before they went out of the emperor's presence, Prince Bahman said, +"Sire, may we presume to request that you will do us and our sister +the honor to visit us the first time you take the diversion of hunting +in that neighborhood? Our house is not worthy your presence; but +monarchs sometimes have vouchsafed to take shelter in a cottage."</p> + +<p>"My children," replied the emperor, "your house cannot be otherwise +than beautiful, and worthy of its owners. I will call and see it with +pleasure, which will be the greater for having for my hosts you and +your sister, who is already dear to me from the accounts you give me +of the rare qualities with which she is endowed;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> and this +satisfaction I will defer no longer than to-morrow. Early in the +morning I will be at the place where I shall never forget that I first +saw you. Meet me, and you shall be my guides."</p> + +<p>When the Princes Bahman and Perviz had returned home they gave the +princess an account of the distinguished reception the emperor had +accorded them, and told her that he would call at their house the next +day.</p> + +<p>"If it be so," replied the princess, "we must think of preparing a +repast fit for his majesty; and for that purpose I think it would be +proper we should consult the speaking-bird; he will tell us perhaps +what meats the emperor likes best."</p> + +<p>The princes approved of her plan, and after they had retired, she +consulted the bird alone.</p> + +<p>"Bird," said she, "the emperor will to-morrow come to see our house, +and we are to entertain him. Tell us what we shall do to acquit +ourselves to his satisfaction."</p> + +<p>"Good mistress," replied the bird, "you have excellent cooks; let them +do the best they can. But above all things, let them prepare a dish of +cucumbers stuffed full of pearls, which must be set before the emperor +in the first course, before all the other dishes."</p> + +<p>"Cucumbers stuffed full of pearls!" cried Princess Perie-zadeh, with +amazement. "Surely, bird, you do not know what you say. It is an +unheard-of dish! Besides, all the pearls I possess are not enough for +such a dish."</p> + +<p>"Mistress," said the bird, "do what I say, and as for the pearls, go +early to-morrow morning to the foot of the first tree on your right +hand in the park, dig under it, and you will find more than you want."</p> + +<p>The princess immediately ordered a gardener to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> ready to attend her +in the morning, and led him at daybreak to the tree which the bird had +told her of, and bade him dig at its foot. When the gardener came to a +certain depth, he found some resistance to the spade, <a name="anch_5" id="anch_5"></a>and presently +discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave into the +princess's hands. As it was fastened only with neat little hasps, she +soon opened it, and found it full of pearls. Very well satisfied with +having found this treasure, after she had shut the box again she put +it under her arm, and went back to the house; while the gardener threw +the earth into the hole at the foot of the tree as it had been before.</p> + +<p>The princess, as she returned to the house, met her two brothers and +gave them an account of her having consulted the bird, and the answer +he had given her to prepare a dish of cucumbers stuffed full of +pearls, and how he had told her where to find this box. The princes +and princess, though they could not by any means guess at the reason +of the bird ordering them to prepare such a dish, yet agreed to follow +his advice exactly.</p> + +<p>As soon as the princess entered the house she called for the head +cook; and after she had given him directions about the entertainment +for the emperor, said to him, "Besides all this, you must dress an +extraordinary dish to set before the emperor himself. This dish must +be of cucumbers stuffed with these pearls." And at the same time she +opened the box and showed him the pearls.</p> + +<p>The chief cook, who had never heard of such a dish, started back, and +could make no reply, but took the box and retired. Afterward the +princess gave directions to all the domestics to have everything in +order, both in house and gardens, to receive the emperor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p>Next day the two princes went to the place appointed; and as soon as +the Emperor of Persia arrived the chase began, which lasted till the +heat of the sun obliged him to leave off. While Prince Bahman stayed +to conduct the emperor to their house, Prince Perviz rode before to +show the way, and when he came in sight of the house, spurred his +horse, to inform the Princess Perie-zadeh that the emperor was +approaching; but she had been told by some attendants whom she had +placed to give notice, and the prince found her waiting ready to +receive him.</p> + +<p>When the emperor had entered the courtyard, and alighted at the +portico, the princess came and threw herself at his feet.</p> + +<p>The emperor stooped to raise her, and after he had gazed some time on +her beauty, said, "The brothers are worthy of the sister, and she is +worthy of them. I am not amazed that the brothers would do nothing +without their sister's consent; but," added he, "I hope to be better +acquainted with you, my daughter, after I have seen the house."</p> + +<p>The princess led the emperor through all the rooms except the hall; +and after he had considered them very attentively and admired their +variety, "My daughter," said he to the princess, "do you call this a +country house? The finest and largest cities would soon be deserted if +all country houses were like yours. I am no longer surprised that you +take so much delight in it, and despise the town. Now let me see the +garden, which I doubt not is answerable to the house."</p> + +<p>The princess opened a door which led into the garden; and conducted +him to the spot where the harmonious tree was planted, and there the +emperor heard a concert,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> different from all he had ever heard before. +Stopping to see where the musicians were, he could discern nobody far +or near, but still distinctly heard the music, which ravished his +senses. "My daughter," said he to the princess, "where are the +musicians whom I hear? Are they underground, or invisible in the air? +Such excellent performers will lose nothing by being seen; on the +contrary, they would please the more."</p> + +<p>"Sire," answered the princess, smiling, "they are not musicians, but +the leaves of the tree your majesty sees before you, which form this +concert; and if you will give yourself the trouble to go a little +nearer, you will be convinced, for the voices will be the more +distinct."</p> + +<p>The emperor went nearer, and was so charmed with the sweet harmony +that he could never have been tired with hearing it.</p> + +<p>"Daughter," said he, "tell me, I pray you, whether this wonderful tree +was found in your garden by chance, or was a present made to you, or +have you procured it from some foreign country? It must certainly have +come from a great distance, otherwise, curious as I am after natural +rarities, I should have heard of it. What name do you call it by?"</p> + +<p>"Sire," replied the princess, "this tree has no other name than that +of the singing-tree, and is not a native of this country. Its history +is connected with the yellow-water and the speaking-bird, which came +to me at the same time, and which your majesty may see after you have +rested yourself. And if it please you, I will relate to you the +history of these rarities."</p> + +<p>"My daughter," replied the emperor, "my fatigue is so well recompensed +by the wonderful things you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> shown me, that I do not feel it the +least. I am impatient to see the yellow-water and to admire the +speaking-bird."</p> + +<p>When the emperor came to the yellow-water his eyes were fixed so +steadfastly upon the fountain that he could not take them off. At +last, addressing himself to the princess, he said, "Whence is this +wonderful water? Where its source? By what art is it made to play so +high that nothing in the world can be compared to it? I conclude that +it is foreign, as well as the singing-tree."</p> + +<p>"Sire," replied the princess, "it is as your majesty conjectures; and +to let you know that this water has no communication with any spring, +I must inform you that the basin is one entire stone, so that the +water cannot come in at the sides or underneath. But what your majesty +will think most wonderful is, that all this water proceeded but from +one small flagon, emptied into this basin, which increased to the +quantity you see, by a property peculiar to itself, and formed this +fountain."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the emperor, going from the fountain, "this is enough for +one time. I promise myself the pleasure to come and visit it often. +Now let us go and see the speaking-bird."</p> + +<p>As he went toward the hall, the emperor perceived a prodigious number +of singing-birds in the trees around, filling the air with their songs +and warblings, and asked why there were so many there, and none on the +other trees in the garden.</p> + +<p>"The reason, sire," answered the princess, "is, because they come from +all parts to accompany the song of the speaking-bird, which your +majesty may see in a cage in one of the windows of the hall we are +approaching; and if you attend, you will perceive that his notes are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +sweeter than those of any of the other birds, even the nightingale's."</p> + +<p>The emperor went into the hall; and as the bird continued singing, the +princess raised her voice, and said, "My slave, here is the emperor. +Pay your compliments to him."</p> + +<p>The bird left off singing that instant, all the other birds ceasing +also, and it said, "God save the emperor. May he long live!"</p> + +<p>As the entertainment was served at the sofa near the window where the +bird was placed, the sultan replied, as he was taking his seat, "Bird, +I thank you, and am overjoyed to find in you the sultan and king of +birds."</p> + +<p>As soon as the emperor saw the dish of cucumbers set before him, +thinking it was stuffed in the best manner, he reached out his hand +and took one; but when he cut it, was in extreme surprise to find it +stuffed with pearls.</p> + +<p>"What novelty is this?" said he. "And with what design were these +cucumbers stuffed thus with pearls, since pearls are not to be eaten!"</p> + +<p>He looked at the two princes and the princess to ask them the meaning; +when the bird, interrupting him, said, "Can your majesty be in such +great astonishment at cucumbers stuffed with pearls, which you see +with your own eyes, and yet so easily believe that the queen your wife +was the mother of a dog, a cat, and of a piece of wood?"</p> + +<p>"I believed those things," replied the emperor, "because the nurses +assured me of the facts."</p> + +<p>"Those nurses, sire," replied the bird, "were the queen's two sisters, +who, envious of her happiness in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> being preferred by your majesty +before them, to satisfy their envy and revenge have abused your +majesty's credulity. If you interrogate them, they will confess their +crime. The two brothers and the sister whom you see before you are +your own children, whom they exposed, and who were saved by the +intendant of your gardens, who adopted and brought them up as his own +children."</p> + +<p>"Bird," cried the emperor, "I believe the truth which you discover to +me. The inclination which drew me to them told me plainly they must be +my own kin. Come then, my sons, come, my daughter, let me embrace you, +and give you the first marks of a father's love and tenderness."</p> + +<p>The emperor then rose, and after having embraced the two princes and +the princess, and mingled his tears with theirs, said, "It is not +enough, my children. You must embrace each other, not as the children +of the intendant of my gardens, to whom I have been so much obliged +for preserving your lives, but as my own children, of the royal blood +of the monarchs of Persia, whose glory, I am persuaded, you will +maintain."</p> + +<p>After the two princes and the princess had embraced mutually with new +satisfaction, the emperor sat down again with them, and finished his +meal in haste; and when he had done, said, "My children, you see in me +your father; to-morrow I will bring the queen your mother. Therefore +prepare to receive her."</p> + +<p>The emperor afterward mounted his horse, and returned with expedition +to his capital. The first thing he did, as soon as he had alighted and +entered his palace, was to command the grand vizier to seize the +queen's two sisters. They were taken from their houses separately,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +convicted and condemned, and the fatal sentence was put in execution +within an hour.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Emperor Khoonoo-shah, followed by all the lords of +his court who were then present, went on foot to the door of the great +mosque; and after he had taken the queen out of the strict confinement +she had languished under for so many years, embracing her in the +miserable condition to which she was then reduced, he said to her, +with tears in his eyes:</p> + +<p>"I come to entreat your pardon for the injustice I have done you, and +to make you the reparation I ought. I have punished your cruel sisters +who put the abominable cheat upon me; and I hope soon to present to +you two accomplished princes and a lovely princess, our children. Come +and resume your former rank, with all the honors which are your due."</p> + +<p>All this was done and said before great crowds of people, who flocked +from all parts at the first news of what was passing, and immediately +spread the joyful intelligence through the city.</p> + +<p>Next morning early the emperor and queen, whose mournful humiliating +dress was changed for magnificent robes, went with all their court to +the house built by the intendant of the gardens, where the emperor +presented the Princes Bahman and Perviz and the Princess Perie-zadeh +to their enraptured mother.</p> + +<p>"These, much injured wife," said he, "are the two princes your sons, +and this the princess your daughter; embrace them with the same +tenderness I have done, since they are worthy both of me and you."</p> + +<p>The tears flowed plentifully down the cheeks of all, but especially of +the queen, from her exceeding joy at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> having two such princes for her +sons, and such a princess for her daughter, on whose account she had +so long endured the severest afflictions.</p> + +<p>The two princes and the princess had prepared a magnificent repast for +the emperor and queen and their court. As soon as that was over, the +emperor led the queen into the garden, and showed her the +harmonious-tree and the beautiful yellow-fountain. She had already +seen and heard the speaking-bird in his cage, and the emperor had +spared no panegyric in his praise during the repast.</p> + +<p>When there was nothing to detain the emperor any longer, he took +horse, and with the Princes Bahman and Perviz on his right hand, and +the queen and the princess at his left, preceded and followed by all +the officers of his court according to their rank, returned to his +capital. Crowds of people came out to meet them, and with acclamations +of joy ushered them into the city, where all eyes were fixed not only +upon the queen, the two princes, and the princess, but also upon the +bird which the princess carried before her in his cage, admiring his +sweet notes which had drawn all the other birds about him, which +followed him, flying from tree to tree in the country, and from one +housetop to another in the city.</p> + +<p>The Princes Bahman and Perviz and the Princess Perie-zadeh were at +length brought to the palace with this pomp, and nothing was to be +seen or heard all that night but illuminations and rejoicings both in +the palace and in the utmost parts of the city, which lasted for many +days, and extended throughout the empire of Persia.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> Parizadeh, the Parisatis of the Greeks, signifies born +of a fairy.—D'Herbelot.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> To understand the language of birds was peculiarly one +of the boasted sciences of the Arabians, who pretend that many of +their countrymen have been skilled in the knowledge of the language of +birds ever since the time of King Solomon. Their writers relate that +Balkis, the Queen of Sheba, had a bird called Hudhud, that is, +lapwing, which was her trusty messenger to King Solomon. D'Herbelot +tells this story of Athejaj, a famous Arabian commander: While he and +a camel driver were talking together, a bird flew over their heads, +making, at the same time, an unusual sort of noise, which the camel +driver hearing, looked steadfastly on Athejaj, and demanded who he +was. Athejaj, not choosing to answer, desired to know the reason of +that question. "Because," replied the camel driver, "this bird assured +me that a company of people is coming this way, and that you are the +chief of them." While he was speaking, Athejaj's attendants +arrived.—<i>Warton's History of Poetry</i>, Vol. II, p. 182. Ed. 1840.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_STORY_OF_ALADDIN_OR_THE_WONDERFUL_LAMP" id="THE_STORY_OF_ALADDIN_OR_THE_WONDERFUL_LAMP"></a>THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP</h2> + + +<p>In one of the large and rich cities of China there once lived a tailor +named Mustapha. He was very poor. He could hardly, by his daily labor, +maintain himself and his family, which consisted only of his wife and +a son.</p> + +<p>His son, who was called Aladdin,<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> was a very careless and idle +fellow. He was disobedient to his father and mother, and would go out +early in the morning and stay out all day, playing in the streets and +public places with idle children of his own age.</p> + +<p>When he was old enough to learn a trade his father took him into his +own shop, and taught him how to use his needle; but all his father's +endeavors to keep him to his work were vain, for no sooner was his +back turned than the boy was gone for that day. Mustapha chastised +him, but Aladdin was incorrigible, and his father, to his great grief, +was forced to abandon him to his idleness. He was so much troubled +about him, that he fell sick and died in a few months.</p> + +<p>Aladdin, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, +gave himself over entirely to his idle habits, and was never out of +the streets from his companions. This course he followed till he was +fifteen years old, without giving his mind to any useful pursuit, or +the least reflection on what would become of him. As he was one day +playing in the street with his evil <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>associates, according to custom, +a stranger passing by stood to observe him.</p> + +<p>This stranger was a sorcerer, known as the African magician, as he had +been but two days arrived from Africa, his native country.</p> + +<p>The African magician, observing in Aladdin's countenance something +which assured him that he was a fit boy for his purpose, inquired his +name and history of his companions. When he had learned all he desired +to know, he went up to him, and taking him aside from his comrades, +said, "Child, was not your father called Mustapha the tailor?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered the boy, "but he has been dead a long time."</p> + +<p>At these words the African magician threw his arms about Aladdin's +neck, and kissed him several times, with tears in his eyes, saying, "I +am your uncle. Your worthy father was my own brother. I knew you at +first sight, you are so like him."</p> + +<p>Then he gave Aladdin a handful of small money, saying, "Go, my son, to +your mother. Give my love to her, and tell her that I will visit her +to-morrow, that I may see where my good brother lived so long, and +ended his days."</p> + +<p>Aladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had given +him.</p> + +<p>"Mother," said he, "have I an uncle?"</p> + +<p>"No, child," replied his mother, "you have no uncle by your father's +side or mine."</p> + +<p>"I am just now come," said Aladdin, "from a man who says he is my +uncle, and my father's brother. He cried, and kissed me, when I told +him my father was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> dead, and gave me money, sending his love to you, +and promising to come and pay you a visit, that he may see the house +my father lived and died in."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, child," replied the mother, "your father had no brother, nor +have you an uncle."</p> + +<p>The next day the magician found Aladdin playing in another part of the +town, and embracing him as before, put two pieces of gold into his +hand, and said to him, "Carry this, child, to your mother. Tell her +that I will come and see her to-night, and bid her get us something +for supper. But first show me the house where you live."</p> + +<p>Aladdin showed the African magician the house, and carried the two +pieces of gold to his mother, who went out and bought provisions; and +considering she wanted various utensils, borrowed them of her +neighbors. She spent the whole day in preparing the supper; and at +night, when it was ready, said to her son, "Perhaps the stranger knows +not how to find our house; go and bring him, if you meet with him."</p> + +<p>Aladdin was just ready to go, when the magician knocked at the door, +and came in loaded with wine and all sorts of fruits, which he brought +for a dessert. After he had given what he brought into Aladdin's +hands, he saluted his mother, and desired her to show him the place +where his brother Mustapha used to sit on the sofa; and when she had +so done, he fell down, and kissed it several times, crying out, with +tears in his eyes, "My poor brother! how unhappy am I, not to have +come soon enough to give you one last embrace!"</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother desired him to sit down in the same place, but he +declined.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," said he, "I shall not do that; but give me leave to sit opposite +to it, that although I see not the master of a family so dear to me, I +may at least behold the place where he used to sit."</p> + +<p>When the magician had made choice of a place, and sat down, he began +to enter into discourse with Aladdin's mother.</p> + +<p>"My good sister," said he, "do not be surprised at your never having +seen me all the time you have been married to my brother Mustapha of +happy memory. I have been forty years absent from this country, which +is my native place as well as my late brother's. During that time I +have traveled into the Indies, Persia, Arabia, and Syria, and +afterward crossed over into Africa, where I took up my abode in Egypt. +At last, as it is natural for a man, I was desirous to see my native +country again, and to embrace my dear brother; and finding I had +strength enough to undertake so long a journey, I made the necessary +preparations, and set out. Nothing ever afflicted me so much as +hearing of my brother's death. But God be praised for all things! It +is a comfort for me to find, as it were, my brother in a son, who has +his most remarkable features."</p> + +<p>The African magician, perceiving that the widow wept at the +remembrance of her husband, changed the conversation, and turning +toward her son, asked him, "What business do you follow? Are you of +any trade?"</p> + +<p>At this question the youth hung down his head, and was not a little +abashed when his mother answered, "Aladdin is an idle fellow. His +father, when alive, strove all he could to teach him his trade, but +could not succeed; and since his death, notwithstanding all I can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> say +to him, he does nothing but idle away his time in the streets, as you +saw him, without considering he is no longer a child; and if you do +not make him ashamed of it, I despair of his ever coming to any good. +For my part, I am resolved, one of these days, to turn him out of +doors, and let him provide for himself."</p> + +<p>After these words, Aladdin's mother burst into tears; and the magician +said, "This is not well, nephew; you must think of helping yourself, +and getting your livelihood. There are many sorts of trades; perhaps +you do not like your father's, and would prefer another; I will +endeavor to help you. If you have no mind to learn any handicraft, I +will take a shop for you, furnish it with all sorts of fine stuffs and +linens; and then with the money you make of them you can lay in fresh +goods, and live in an honorable way. Tell me freely what you think of +my proposal; you shall always find me ready to keep my word."</p> + +<p>This plan just suited Aladdin, who hated work. He told the magician he +had a greater inclination to that business than to any other, and that +he should be much obliged to him for his kindness. "Well, then," said +the African magician, "I will carry you with me to-morrow, clothe you +as handsomely as the best merchants in the city, and afterward we will +open a shop as I mentioned."</p> + +<p>The widow, after his promise of kindness to her son, no longer doubted +that the magician was her husband's brother. She thanked him for his +good intentions; and after having exhorted Aladdin to render himself +worthy of his uncle's favor, she served up supper, at which they +talked of several indifferent matters; and then the magician took his +leave and retired.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>He came again the next day, as he had promised, and took Aladdin with +him to a merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes for different ages +and ranks, ready made, and a variety of fine stuffs, and bade Aladdin +choose those he preferred, which he paid for.</p> + +<p>When Aladdin found himself so handsomely equipped, he returned his +uncle thanks, who thus addressed him: "As you are soon to be a +merchant, it is proper you should frequent these shops, and become +acquainted with them."</p> + +<p>He then showed him the largest and finest mosques, carried him to the +khans or inns where the merchants and travelers lodged, and afterward +to the sultan's palace, where he had free access; and at last brought +him to his own khan, where, meeting with some merchants he had become +acquainted with since his arrival, he gave them a treat, to bring them +and his pretended nephew acquainted.</p> + +<p>This entertainment lasted till night, when Aladdin would have taken +leave of his uncle to go home. The magician would not let him go by +himself, but conducted him to his mother, who, as soon as she saw him +so well dressed, was transported with joy, and bestowed a thousand +blessings upon the magician.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the magician called again for Aladdin, and said +he would take him to spend that day in the country, and on the next he +would purchase the shop. He then led him out at one of the gates of +the city, to some magnificent palaces, to each of which belonged +beautiful gardens, into which anybody might enter. At every building +he came to he asked Aladdin if he did not think it fine; and the youth +was ready to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> answer, when any one presented itself, crying out, "Here +is a finer house, uncle, than any we have yet seen."</p> + +<p>By this artifice the cunning magician led Aladdin some way into the +country; and as he meant to carry him farther, to execute his design, +pretending to be tired, he took an opportunity to sit down in one of +the gardens, on the brink of a fountain of clear water which +discharged itself by a lion's mouth of bronze into a basin.</p> + +<p>"Come, nephew," said he, "you must be weary as well as I. Let us rest +ourselves, and we shall be better able to pursue our walk."</p> + +<p>The magician next pulled from his girdle a handkerchief with cakes and +fruit, and during this short repast he exhorted his nephew to leave +off bad company, and to seek that of wise and prudent men, to improve +by their conversation. "For," said he, "you will soon be at man's +estate, and you cannot too early begin to imitate their example."</p> + +<p>When they had eaten as much as they liked, they got up, and pursued +their walk through gardens separated from one another only by small +ditches, which marked out the limits without interrupting the +communication; so great was the confidence the inhabitants reposed in +each other.</p> + +<p>By this means the African magician drew Aladdin insensibly beyond the +gardens, and crossed the country, till they nearly reached the +mountains.</p> + +<p>At last they arrived between two mountains of moderate height and +equal size, divided by a narrow valley, where the magician intended to +execute the design that had brought him from Africa to China.</p> + +<p>"We will go no farther now," said he to Aladdin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> "I will show you +here some extraordinary things, which, when you have seen, you will +thank me for; but while I strike a light, gather up all the loose dry +sticks you can see, to kindle a fire with."</p> + +<p>Aladdin found so many dried sticks that he soon collected a great +heap. The magician presently set them on fire; and when they were in a +blaze he threw in some incense, pronouncing several magical words, +which Aladdin did not understand.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely done so when the earth opened just before the +magician, and disclosed a stone with a brass ring fixed in it. Aladdin +was so frightened that he would have run away, but the magician caught +hold of him, and gave him such a box on the ear that he knocked him +down. Aladdin got up trembling, and, with tears in his eyes, said to +the magician, "What have I done, uncle, to be treated in this severe +manner?"</p> + +<p>"I am your uncle," answered the magician; "I supply the place of your +father, and you ought to make no reply. But, child," added he, +softening, "do not be afraid; for I shall not ask anything of you, but +that, if you obey me punctually, you will reap the advantages which I +intend you. Know, then, that under this stone there is hidden a +treasure, destined to be yours, and which will make you richer than +the greatest monarch in the world. No person but yourself is permitted +to lift this stone, or enter the cave; so you must punctually execute +what I may command, for it is a matter of great consequence both to +you and to me."</p> + +<p>Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard, forgot what was past, and +rising said, "Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me. I am ready +to obey."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am overjoyed, child," said the African magician, embracing him. +"Take hold of the ring, and lift up that stone."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, uncle," replied Aladdin, "I am not strong enough; you must +help me."</p> + +<p>"You have no occasion for my assistance," answered the magician; "if I +help you, we shall be able to do nothing. Take hold of the ring, and +lift it up; you will find it will come easily." Aladdin did as the +magician bade him, raised the stone with ease, and laid it on one +side.</p> + +<p>When the stone was pulled up there appeared a staircase about three or +four feet deep, leading to a door.</p> + +<p>"Descend those steps, my son," said the African magician, "and open +that door. It will lead you into a palace, divided into three great +halls. In each of these you will see four large brass cisterns placed +on each side, full of gold and silver; but take care you do not meddle +with them. Before you enter the first hall, be sure to tuck up your +robe, wrap it about you, and then pass through the second into the +third without stopping. Above all things, have a care that you do not +touch the walls so much as with your clothes; for if you do, you will +die instantly. At the end of the third hall you will find a door which +opens into a garden planted with fine trees loaded with fruit. Walk +directly across the garden to a terrace, where you will see a niche +before you, and in that niche a lighted lamp. Take the lamp down and +put it out. When you have thrown away the wick and poured out the +liquor, put it in your waistband and bring it to me. Do not be afraid +that the liquor will spoil your clothes, for it is not oil, and the +lamp will be dry as soon as it is thrown out."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p>After these words the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put it +on one of Aladdin's, saying, "It is a talisman against all evil, so +long as you obey me. Go, therefore, boldly, and we shall both be rich +all our lives."</p> + +<p>Aladdin descended the steps, and, opening the door, found the three +halls just as the African magician had described. He went through them +with all the precaution the fear of death could inspire, crossed the +garden without stopping, took down the lamp from the niche, threw out +the wick and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired, put it in +his waistband. But as he came down from the terrace, seeing it was +perfectly dry, he stopped in the garden to observe the trees, which +were loaded with extraordinary fruit of different colors on each tree. +Some bore fruit entirely white, and some clear and transparent as +crystal; some pale red, and others deeper; some green, blue, and +purple, and others yellow; in short, there was fruit of all colors. +The white were pearls; the clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep +red, rubies; the paler, ballas rubies<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a>; the green, emeralds; the +blue, turquoises; the purple, amethysts; and the yellow, sapphires. +Aladdin, ignorant of their value, would have preferred figs, or +grapes, or pomegranates; but as he had his uncle's permission, he +resolved to gather some of every sort. Having filled the two new +purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes, he wrapped some +up in the skirts of his vest, and crammed his bosom as full as it +could hold.</p> + +<p>Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches of which he knew not +the value, returned through the three halls with the utmost +precaution, and soon arrived at <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>the mouth of the cave, where the +African magician awaited him with the utmost impatience.</p> + +<p>As soon as Aladdin saw him, he cried out, "Pray, uncle, lend me your +hand, to help me out."</p> + +<p>"Give me the lamp first," replied the magician; "it will be +troublesome to you."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, uncle," answered Aladdin, "I cannot now; but I will as soon +as I am up."</p> + +<p>The African magician was determined that he would have the lamp before +he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumbered himself so much +with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refused to give it to +him till he was out of the cave. The African magician, provoked at +this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a little of his +incense into the fire, and pronounced two magical words, when the +stone which had closed the mouth of the staircase moved into its +place, with the earth over it in the same manner as it lay at the +arrival of the magician and Aladdin.</p> + +<p>This action of the magician plainly revealed to Aladdin that he was no +uncle of his, but one who designed him evil. The truth was that he had +learned from his magic books the secret and the value of this +wonderful lamp, the owner of which would be made richer than any +earthly ruler, and hence his journey to China. His art had also told +him that he was not permitted to take it himself, but must receive it +as a voluntary gift from the hands of another person. Hence he +employed young Aladdin, and hoped by a mixture of kindness and +authority to make him obedient to his word and will. When he found +that his attempt had failed, he set out to return to Africa, but +avoided the town, lest any person who had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> seen him leave in company +with Aladdin should make inquiries after the youth.</p> + +<p>Aladdin, being suddenly enveloped in darkness, cried, and called out +to his uncle to tell him he was ready to give him the lamp. But in +vain, since his cries could not be heard.</p> + +<p>He descended to the bottom of the steps, with a design to get into the +palace, but the door, which was opened before by enchantment, was now +shut by the same means. He then redoubled his cries and tears, sat +down on the steps without any hopes of ever seeing light again, and in +an expectation of passing from the present darkness to a speedy death.</p> + +<p>In this great emergency he said, "There is no strength or power but in +the great and high God"; and in joining his hands to pray he rubbed +the ring which the magician had put on his finger. Immediately a genie +of frightful aspect appeared, and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am +ready to obey thee. I serve him who possesses the ring on thy finger; +I, and the other slaves of that ring."</p> + +<p>At another time Aladdin would have been frightened at the sight of so +extraordinary a figure, but the danger he was in made him answer +without hesitation, "Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place." He +had no sooner spoken these words than he found himself on the very +spot where the magician had last left him, and no sign of cave or +opening, nor disturbance of the earth. Returning thanks to God for +being once more in the world, he made the best of his way home. When +he got within his mother's door, joy at seeing her and weakness for +want of sustenance made him so faint that he remained for a long time +as dead. As soon as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> recovered, he related to his mother all that +had happened to him, and they were both very vehement in their +complaints of the cruel magician.</p> + +<p>Aladdin slept very soundly till late the next morning, when the first +thing he said to his mother was, that he wanted something to eat, and +wished she would give him his breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Alas! child," said she, "I have not a bit of bread to give you; you +ate up all the provisions I had in the house yesterday; but I have a +little cotton which I have spun; I will go and sell it, and buy bread +and something for our dinner."</p> + +<p>"Mother," replied Aladdin, "keep your cotton for another time, and +give me the lamp I brought home with me yesterday. I will go and sell +it, and the money I shall get for it will serve both for breakfast and +dinner, and perhaps supper too."</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother took the lamp and said to her son, "Here it is, but +it is very dirty. If it were a little cleaner I believe it would bring +something more."</p> + +<p>She took some fine sand and water to clean it. But she had no sooner +begun to rub it, than in an instant a hideous genie of gigantic size +appeared before her, and said to her in a voice of thunder, "What +wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave +of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I, and the other +slaves of the lamp."</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted; when +Aladdin, who had seen such a phantom in the cavern, snatched the lamp +out of his mother's hand, and said to the genie boldly, "I am hungry. +Bring me something to eat."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p><a name="anch_1" id="anch_1"></a>The genie disappeared immediately, and in an instant returned with a +large silver tray, holding twelve covered dishes of the same metal, +which contained the most delicious viands; six large white bread cakes +on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silver cups. All these he +placed upon a carpet and disappeared; this was done before Aladdin's +mother recovered from her swoon.</p> + +<p>Aladdin had fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face to +recover her. Whether that or the smell of the meat effected her cure, +it was not long before she came to herself.</p> + +<p>"Mother," said Aladdin, "be not afraid. Get up and eat. Here is what +will put you in heart, and at the same time satisfy my extreme +hunger."</p> + +<p>His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve dishes, +six loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the savory odor +which exhaled from the dishes.</p> + +<p>"Child," said she, "to whom are we obliged for this great plenty and +liberality? Has the sultan been made acquainted with our poverty, and +had compassion on us?"</p> + +<p>"It is no matter, mother," said Aladdin. "Let us sit down and eat; for +you have almost as much need of a good breakfast as I myself. When we +have done, I will tell you."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, both mother and son sat down and ate with the better +relish as the table was so well furnished. But all the time Aladdin's +mother could not forbear looking at and admiring the tray and dishes, +though she could not judge whether they were silver or any other +metal, and the novelty more than the value attracted her attention.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner time, and then +they thought it would be best to put the two meals together. Yet, +after this they found they should have enough left for supper, and two +meals for the next day.</p> + +<p>When Aladdin's mother had taken away and set by what was left, she +went and sat down by her son on the sofa, saying, "I expect now that +you will satisfy my impatience, and tell me exactly what passed +between the genie and you while I was in a swoon."</p> + +<p>He readily complied with her request.</p> + +<p>She was in as great amazement at what her son told her as at the +appearance of the genie, and said to him, "But, son, what have we to +do with genies? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had ever +seen one. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, and not +to you, to whom he had appeared before in the cave?"</p> + +<p>"Mother," answered Aladdin, "the genie you saw is not the one who +appeared to me. If you remember, he that I first saw called himself +the slave of the ring on my finger; and this you saw, called himself +the slave of the lamp you had in your hand; but I believe you did not +hear him, for I think you fainted as soon as he began to speak."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp then the occasion of that +cursed genie's addressing himself to me rather than to you? Ah! my +son, take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. I had +rather you would sell it than run the hazard of being frightened to +death again by touching it; and if you would take my advice, you would +part also with the ring, and not have anything to do with genies, who, +as our prophet has told us, are only devils."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + +<p>"With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin, "I shall now take care how +I sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me. That +false and wicked magician would not have undertaken so long a journey +to secure this wonderful lamp if he had not known its value to exceed +that of gold and silver. And since we have honestly come by it, let us +make a profitable use of it, without making any great show and +exciting the envy and jealousy of our neighbors. However, since the +genies frighten you so much, I will take it out of your sight, and put +it where I may find it when I want it. The ring I cannot resolve to +part with; for without that you had never seen me again; and though I +am alive now, perhaps, if it were gone, I might not be so some moments +hence. Therefore I hope you will give me leave to keep it, and to wear +it always on my finger."</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother replied that he might do what he pleased; for her +part, she would have nothing to do with genies, and never say anything +more about them.</p> + +<p>By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie had +brought; and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the thought of +hunger, putting one of the silver dishes under his vest, went out +early to sell it. Addressing himself to a Jew whom he met in the +streets, he took him aside, and pulling out the plate, asked him if he +would buy it.</p> + +<p>The cunning Jew took the dish, examined it, and as soon as he found +that it was good silver, asked Aladdin at how much he valued it.</p> + +<p>Aladdin, who had never been used to such traffic, told him he would +trust to his judgment and honor. The Jew was somewhat confounded at +this plain dealing;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> and doubting whether Aladdin understood the +material or the full value of what he offered to sell, took a piece of +gold out of his purse and gave it him, though it was but the sixtieth +part of the worth of the plate. Aladdin, taking the money very +eagerly, retired with so much haste that the Jew, not content with the +exorbitancy of his profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into his +ignorance, and was going to run after him, to endeavor to get some +change out of the piece of gold. But the boy ran so fast, and had got +so far, that it would have been impossible to overtake him.</p> + +<p>Before Aladdin went home he called at a baker's, bought some cakes of +bread, changed his money, and on his return gave the rest to his +mother, who went and purchased provisions enough to last them some +time. After this manner they lived, until Aladdin had sold the twelve +dishes singly, as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the same money; +who, after the first time, durst not offer him less, for fear of +losing so good a bargain. When he had sold the last dish, he had +recourse to the tray, which weighed ten times as much as the dishes, +and would have carried it to his old purchaser, but that it was too +large and cumbersome; therefore he was obliged to bring him home with +him to his mother's, where, after the Jew had examined the weight of +the tray, he laid down ten pieces of gold, with which Aladdin was very +well satisfied.</p> + +<p>When all the money was spent, Aladdin had recourse again to the lamp. +He took it in his hands, looked for the part where his mother had +rubbed it with the sand, and rubbed it also. The genie immediately +appeared, and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> obey thee +as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their +hands; I, and the other slaves of the lamp."</p> + +<p>"I am hungry," said Aladdin. "Bring me something to eat."</p> + +<p>The genie disappeared, and presently returned with a tray holding the +same number of covered dishes as before, set it down, and vanished.</p> + +<p>As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were again expended, he +took one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew chapman. But as +he was passing by a goldsmith's shop, the goldsmith perceiving him, +called to him, and said, "My lad, I imagine that you have something to +sell to the Jew, whom I often see you visit. Perhaps you do not know +that he is the greatest rogue even among the Jews. I will give you the +full worth of what you have to sell, or I will direct you to other +merchants who will not cheat you."</p> + +<p>This offer induced Aladdin to pull his plate from under his vest and +show it to the goldsmith. At first sight he perceived that it was made +of the finest silver, and asked if he had sold such as that to the +Jew. When Aladdin told him he had sold him twelve such, for a piece of +gold each, "What a villain!" cried the goldsmith. "But," added he, "my +son, what is past cannot be recalled. By showing you the value of this +plate, which is of the finest silver we use in our shops, I will let +you see how much the Jew has cheated you."</p> + +<p>The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and assured him +that his plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, which he +offered to pay down immediately.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and never after went to any +other person.</p> + +<p>Though Aladdin and his mother had an inexhaustible treasure in their +lamp, and might have had whatever they wished for, yet they lived with +the same frugality as before, and it may easily be supposed that the +money for which Aladdin had sold the dishes and tray was sufficient to +maintain them some time.</p> + +<p>During this interval, Aladdin frequented the shops of the principal +merchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver, linens, silk +stuffs, and jewelry, and, oftentimes joining in their conversation, +acquired a knowledge of the world, and a desire to improve himself. By +his acquaintance among the jewelers, he came to know that the fruits +which he had gathered when he took the lamp were, instead of colored +glass, stones of inestimable value; but he had the prudence not to +mention this to any one, not even to his mother.</p> + +<p>One day as Aladdin was walking about the town he heard an order +proclaimed, commanding the people to shut up their shops and houses, +and keep within doors while the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the +sultan's daughter, went to the bath and returned.</p> + +<p>This proclamation inspired Aladdin with eager desire to see the +princess's face, which he determined to gratify by placing himself +behind the door of the bath, so that he could not fail to see her +face.</p> + +<p>Aladdin had not long concealed himself before the princess came. She +was attended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves, and mutes, who walked +on each side and behind her. When she came within three or four paces +of the door of the bath, she took off her veil, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> gave Aladdin an +opportunity of a full view of her face.</p> + +<p>The princess was a noted beauty; her eyes were large, lively, and +sparkling; her smile bewitching; her nose faultless; her mouth small; +her lips vermilion. It is not therefore surprising that Aladdin, who +had never before seen such a blaze of charms, was dazzled and +enchanted.</p> + +<p>After the princess had passed by, and entered the bath, Aladdin +quitted his hiding place, and went home. His mother perceived him to +be more thoughtful and melancholy than usual, and asked what had +happened to make him so, or if he were ill. He then told his mother +all his adventure, and concluded by declaring, "I love the princess +more than I can express, and am resolved that I will ask her in +marriage of the sultan."</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother listened with surprise to what her son told her. When +he talked of asking the princess in marriage, she laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>"Alas! child," said she, "what are you thinking of? You must be mad to +talk thus."</p> + +<p>"I assure you, mother," replied Aladdin, "that I am not mad, but in my +right senses. I foresaw that you would reproach me with folly and +extravagance; but I must tell you once more that I am resolved to +demand the princess of the sultan in marriage; nor do I despair of +success. I have the slaves of the lamp and of the ring to help me, and +you know how powerful their aid is. And I have another secret to tell +you; those pieces of glass, which I got from the trees in the garden +of the subterranean palace, are jewels of inestimable value, and fit +for the greatest monarchs. All the precious stones the jewelers have +in Bagdad are not to be compared to mine for size or beauty; and I am +sure that the offer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> of them will secure the favor of the sultan. You +have a large porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, and let us see +how they will look, when we have arranged them according to their +different colors."</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother brought the china dish. Then he took the jewels out +of the two purses in which he had kept them, and placed them in order, +according to his fancy. But the brightness and luster they emitted in +the daytime, and the variety of the colors, so dazzled the eyes both +of mother and son that they were astonished beyond measure. Aladdin's +mother, emboldened by the sight of these rich jewels, and fearful lest +her son should be guilty of greater extravagance, complied with his +request, and promised to go early the next morning to the palace of +the sultan. Aladdin rose before daybreak, awakened his mother, +pressing her to go to the sultan's palace and to get admittance, if +possible, before the grand vizier, the other viziers, and the great +officers of state went in to take their seats in the divan, where the +sultan always attended in person.</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which they had put the jewels +the day before, wrapped it in two fine napkins, and set forward for +the sultan's palace. When she came to the gates the grand vizier, the +other viziers, and most distinguished lords of the court were just +gone in; but notwithstanding the crowd of people was great, she got +into the divan, a spacious hall, the entrance into which was very +magnificent. She placed herself just before the sultan, and the grand +vizier and the great lords, who sat in council on his right and left +hand. Several causes were called, according to their order, pleaded +and adjudged, until the time the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> divan generally broke up, when the +sultan, rising, returned to his apartment, attended by the grand +vizier; the other viziers and ministers of state then retired, as also +did all those whose business had called them thither.</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and all the people depart, +judged rightly that he would not sit again that day, and resolved to +go home. On her arrival she said, with much simplicity, "Son, I have +seen the sultan, and am very well persuaded he has seen me, too, for I +placed myself just before him; but he was so much taken up with those +who attended on all sides of him that I pitied him, and wondered at +his patience. At last I believe he was heartily tired, for he rose up +suddenly, and would not hear a great many who were ready prepared to +speak to him, but went away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed I +began to lose all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying so +long. But there is no harm done; I will go again to-morrow. Perhaps +the sultan may not be so busy."</p> + +<p>The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the present +as early as the day before; but when she came there, she found the +gates of the divan shut.<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> She went six times afterward on the days +appointed, placed herself always directly before the sultan, but with +as little success as the first morning.</p> + +<p>On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when the +sultan returned to his own apartment he said to his grand vizier: "I +have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends constantly +every day that I give audience, with something wrapped <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>up in a +napkin; she always stands up from the beginning to the breaking up of +the audience, and effects to place herself just before me. If this +woman comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I may +hear what she has to say."</p> + +<p>The grand vizier made answer by lowering his hand, and then lifting it +up above his head, signifying his willingness to lose it if he failed.</p> + +<p>On the next audience day, when Aladdin's mother went to the divan, and +placed herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand vizier +immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and pointing to her +bade him bring her before the sultan. The old woman at once followed +the mace-bearer, and when she reached the sultan, bowed her head down +to the carpet which covered the platform of the throne, and remained +in that posture until he bade her rise.</p> + +<p>She had no sooner done so, than he said to her, "Good woman, I have +observed you to stand many days from the beginning to the rising of +the divan. What business brings you here?"</p> + +<p>At these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time, and +when she arose, said, "Monarch of monarchs, I beg of you to pardon the +boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your pardon and +forgiveness."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied the sultan, "I will forgive you, be it what it may, +and no hurt shall come to you. Speak boldly."</p> + +<p>When Aladdin's mother had taken all these precautions, for fear of the +sultan's anger, she told him faithfully the errand on which her son +had sent her, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> the event which led to his making so bold a request +in spite of all her remonstrances.</p> + +<p>The sultan hearkened to this discourse without showing the least +anger. But before he gave her any answer, he asked her what she had +brought tied up in the napkin. She took the china dish which she had +set down at the foot of the throne, untied it, and presented it to the +sultan.</p> + +<p>The sultan's amazement and surprise were inexpressible, when he saw so +many large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in the dish. He +remained for some time lost in admiration. At last, when he had +recovered himself, he received the present from Aladdin's mother's +hand, saying, "How rich, how beautiful!"</p> + +<p>After he had admired and handled all the jewels one after another, he +turned to his grand vizier, and showing him the dish, said, "Behold, +admire, wonder! And confess that your eyes never beheld jewels so rich +and beautiful before."</p> + +<p>The vizier was charmed.</p> + +<p>"Well," continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such a present? Is +it not worthy of the princess my daughter? And ought I not to bestow +her on one who values her at so great a price?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot but own," replied the grand vizier, "that the present is +worthy of the princess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three +months before you come to a final resolution. I hope, before that +time, my son, whom you have regarded with your favor, will be able to +make a nobler present than this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to +your majesty."</p> + +<p>The sultan granted his request, and he said to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> old woman, "Good +woman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to the proposal you +have made me; but I cannot marry the princess my daughter for three +months. At the expiration of that time, come again."</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother returned home much more gratified than she had +expected, and told her son with much joy the condescending answer she +had received from the sultan's own mouth; and that she was to come to +the divan again that day three months.</p> + +<p>At hearing this news, Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all +men, and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the affair, +the good success of which was of so great importance to his peace that +he counted every day, week, and even hour as it passed. When two of +the three months were passed, his mother one evening, having no oil in +the house, went out to buy some, and found a general rejoicing—the +houses dressed with foliage, silks, and carpeting, and every one +striving to show his joy according to his ability. The streets were +crowded with officers in habits of ceremony, mounted on horses richly +caparisoned, each attended by a great many footmen. Aladdin's mother +asked the oil merchant what was the meaning of all this preparation of +public festivity.</p> + +<p>"Whence came you, good woman," said he, "that you don't know that the +grand vizier's son is to marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the +sultan's daughter, to-night? She will presently return from the bath; +and these officers whom you see are to assist at the cavalcade to the +palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnized."</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother, on hearing this news, ran home very quickly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Child," cried she, "you are undone! The sultan's fine promises will +come to naught. This night the grand vizier's son is to marry the +Princess Buddir al Buddoor."</p> + +<p>At this account Aladdin was thunderstruck. He bethought himself of the +lamp, and of the genie who had promised to obey him; and without +indulging in idle words against the sultan, the vizier, or his son, he +determined, if possible, to prevent the marriage.</p> + +<p>When Aladdin had got into his chamber he took the lamp, and rubbing it +in the same place as before, immediately the genie appeared, and said +to him, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave; +I, and the other slaves of the lamp."</p> + +<p>"Hear me," said Aladdin. "Thou hast hitherto obeyed me, but now I am +about to impose on thee a harder task. The sultan's daughter, who was +promised me as my bride, is this night married to the son of the grand +vizier. Bring them both hither to me immediately they retire to their +bedchamber."</p> + +<p>"Master," replied the genie, "I obey you."</p> + +<p>Aladdin supped with his mother as was their wont, and then went to his +own apartment, and sat up to await the return of the genie, according +to his commands.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the festivities in honor of the princess's marriage +were conducted in the sultan's palace with great magnificence. The +ceremonies were at last brought to a conclusion, and the princess and +the son of the vizier retired to the bedchamber prepared for them. No +sooner had they entered it, and dismissed their attendants, than the +genie, the faithful slave of the lamp, to the great amazement and +alarm of the bride<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> and bridegroom took up the bed, and by an agency +invisible to them, transported it in an instant into Aladdin's +chamber, where he set it down.</p> + +<p>"Remove the bridegroom," said Aladdin to the genie, "and keep him a +prisoner till to-morrow dawn, and then return with him here." On +Aladdin being left alone with the princess, he endeavored to assuage +her fears, and explained to her the treachery practiced upon him by +the sultan her father. He then laid himself down beside her, putting a +drawn scimitar between them, to show that he was determined to secure +her safety, and to treat her with the utmost possible respect. At +break of day, the genie appeared at the appointed hour, bringing back +the bridegroom, whom by breathing upon he had left motionless and +entranced at the door of Aladdin's chamber during the night, and at +Aladdin's command transported the couch, with the bride and bridegroom +on it, by the same invisible agency, into the palace of the sultan.</p> + +<p>At the instant that the genie had set down the couch with the bride +and bridegroom in their own chamber, the sultan came to the door to +offer his good wishes to his daughter. The grand vizier's son, who was +almost perished with cold, by standing in his thin under-garment all +night, no sooner heard the knocking at the door than he got out of +bed, and ran into the robing-chamber, where he had undressed himself +the night before.</p> + +<p>The sultan, having opened the door, went to the bed-side, and kissed +the princess on the forehead, but was extremely surprised to see her +look so melancholy. She only cast at him a sorrowful look, expressive +of great affliction. He suspected there was something extraordinary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +in this silence, and thereupon went immediately to the sultaness's +apartment, told her in what a state he found the princess, and how she +had received him.</p> + +<p>"Sire," said the sultaness, "I will go and see her. She will not +receive me in the same manner."</p> + +<p>The princess received her mother with sighs and tears, and signs of +deep dejection. At last, upon her pressing on her the duty of telling +her all her thoughts, she gave to the sultaness a precise description +of all that happened to her during the night; on which the sultaness +enjoined on her the necessity of silence and discretion, as no one +would give credence to so strange a tale. The grand vizier's son, +elated with the honor of being the sultan's son-in-law, kept silence +on his part, and the events of the night were not allowed to cast the +least gloom on the festivities on the following day, in continued +celebration of the royal marriage.</p> + +<p>When night came, the bride and bridegroom were again attended to their +chamber with the same ceremonies as on the preceding evening. Aladdin, +knowing that this would be so, had already given his commands to the +genie of the lamp; and no sooner were they alone than their bed was +removed in the same mysterious manner as on the preceding evening; and +having passed the night in the same unpleasant way, they were in the +morning conveyed to the palace of the sultan. Scarcely had they been +replaced in their apartment, when the sultan came to make his +compliments to his daughter. The princess could no longer conceal from +him the unhappy treatment she had been subjected to, and told him all +that had happened, as she had already related it to her mother.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<p>The sultan, on hearing these strange tidings, consulted with the grand +vizier; and finding from him that his son had been subjected by an +invisible agency to even worse treatment, he determined to declare the +marriage canceled, and all the festivities, which were yet to last for +several days, countermanded and terminated.</p> + +<p>This sudden change in the mind of the sultan gave rise to various +speculations and reports. Nobody but Aladdin knew the secret, and he +kept it with the most scrupulous silence. Neither the sultan nor the +grand vizier, who had forgotten Aladdin and his request, had the least +thought that he had any hand in the strange adventures that befell the +bride and bridegroom.</p> + +<p>On the very day that the three months contained in the sultan's +promise expired, the mother of Aladdin again went to the palace, and +stood in the same place in the divan. The sultan knew her again, and +directed his vizier to have her brought before him.</p> + +<p>After having prostrated herself, she made answer, in reply to the +sultan: "Sire, I come at the end of three months to ask of you the +fulfillment of the promise you made to my son."</p> + +<p>The sultan little thought the request of Aladdin's mother was made to +him in earnest, or that he would hear any more of the matter. He +therefore took counsel with his vizier, who suggested that the sultan +should attach such conditions to the marriage that no one of the +humble condition of Aladdin could possibly fulfill. In accordance with +this suggestion of the vizier, the sultan replied to the mother of +Aladdin: "Good woman, it is true sultans ought to abide by their word, +and I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> am ready to keep mine, by making your son happy in marriage +with the princess my daughter. But as I cannot marry her without some +further proof of your son being able to support her in royal state, +you may tell him I will fulfill my promise as soon as he shall send me +forty trays of massy gold, full of the same sort of jewels you have +already made me a present of, and carried by the like number of black +slaves, who shall be led by as many young and handsome white slaves, +all dressed magnificently. On these conditions I am ready to bestow +the princess my daughter upon him; therefore, good woman, go and tell +him so, and I will wait till you bring me his answer."</p> + +<p>Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time before the sultan's +throne, and retired. On her way home, she laughed within herself at +her son's foolish imagination. "Where," said she, "can he get so many +large gold trays, and such precious stones to fill them? It is +altogether out of his power, and I believe he will not be much pleased +with my embassy this time."</p> + +<p>When she came home, full of these thoughts, she told Aladdin all the +circumstances of her interview with the sultan, and the conditions on +which he consented to the marriage. "The sultan expects your answer +immediately," said she; and then added, laughing, "I believe he may +wait long enough!"</p> + +<p>"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied Aladdin. "This demand +is a mere trifle, and will prove no bar to my marriage with the +princess. I will prepare at once to satisfy his request."</p> + +<p>Aladdin retired to his own apartment and summoned the genie of the +lamp, and required him to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> immediately prepare and present the gift, +before the sultan closed his morning audience, according to the terms +in which it had been prescribed. The genie professed his obedience to +the owner of the lamp, and disappeared. Within a very short time, a +train of forty black slaves, led by the same number of white slaves, +appeared opposite the house in which Aladdin lived. Each black slave +carried on his head a basin of massy gold, full of pearls, diamonds, +rubies, and emeralds.</p> + +<p>Aladdin then addressed his mother: "Madam, pray lose no time; before +the sultan and the divan rise, I would have you return to the palace +with this present as the dowry demanded for the princess, that he may +judge by my diligence and exactness of the ardent and sincere desire I +have to procure myself the honor of this alliance."</p> + +<p>As soon as this magnificent procession, with Aladdin's mother at its +head, had begun to march from Aladdin's house, the whole city was +filled with the crowds of people desirous to see so grand a sight. The +graceful bearing, elegant form, and wonderful likeness of each slave; +their grave walk at an equal distance from each other, the luster of +their jeweled girdles, and the brilliancy of the aigrettes of precious +stones in their turbans, excited the greatest admiration in the +spectators. As they had to pass through several streets to the palace, +the whole length of the way was lined with files of spectators. +Nothing, indeed, was ever seen so beautiful and brilliant in the +sultan's palace, and the richest robes of the emirs of his court were +not to be compared to the costly dresses of these slaves, whom they +supposed to be kings.</p> + +<p>As the sultan, who had been informed of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> approach, had given +orders for them to be admitted, they met with no obstacle, but went +into the divan in regular order, one part turning to the right and the +other to the left. After they were all entered, and had formed a +semi-circle before the sultan's throne, the black slaves laid the +golden trays on the carpet, prostrated themselves, touching the carpet +with their foreheads, and at the same time the white slaves did the +same. When they rose, the black slaves uncovered the trays, and then +all stood with their arms crossed over their breasts.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of the throne, +and having prostrated herself, said to the sultan, "Sire, my son knows +this present is much below the notice of Princess Buddir al Buddoor; +but hopes, nevertheless, that your majesty will accept of it, and make +it agreeable to the princess, and with the greater confidence since he +has endeavored to conform to the conditions you were pleased to +impose."</p> + +<p>The sultan, overpowered by the sight of such more than royal +magnificence, replied without hesitation to the words of Aladdin's +mother: "Go and tell your son that I wait with open arms to embrace +him; and the more haste he makes to come and receive the princess my +daughter from my hands, the greater pleasure he will do me."</p> + +<p>As soon as Aladdin's mother had retired, the sultan put an end to the +audience. Rising from his throne, he ordered that the princess's +attendants should come and carry the trays into their mistress's +apartment, whither he went himself to examine them with her at his +leisure. The fourscore slaves were conducted into the palace; and the +sultan, telling the princess of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> magnificent apparel, ordered +them to be brought before her apartment, that she might see through +the lattices he had not exaggerated in his account of them.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Aladdin's mother reached home, and showed in her air +and countenance the good news she brought to her son. "My son," said +she, "you may rejoice you are arrived at the height of your desires. +The sultan has declared that you shall marry the Princess Buddir al +Buddoor. He waits for you with impatience."</p> + +<p>Aladdin, enraptured with this news, made his mother very little reply, +but retired to his chamber. There he rubbed his lamp, and the obedient +genie appeared.</p> + +<p>"Genie," said Aladdin, "convey me at once to a bath, and supply me +with the richest and most magnificent robe ever worn by a monarch."</p> + +<p>No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the genie rendered him, +as well as himself, invisible, and transported him into a hummum<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> +of the finest marble of all sorts of colors; where he was undressed, +without seeing by whom, in a magnificent and spacious hall. He was +then well rubbed and washed with various scented waters. After he had +passed through several degrees of heat, he came out quite a different +man from what he was before. His skin was clear as that of a child, +his body lightsome and free; and when he returned into the hall, he +found, instead of his own poor raiment, a robe, the magnificence of +which astonished him. The genie helped him to dress, and when he had +done, transported him back to his own chamber, where he asked him if +he had any other commands.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Aladdin, "bring me a charger that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>surpasses in beauty +and goodness the best in the sultan's stables; with a saddle, bridle, +and other caparisons to correspond with his value. Furnish also twenty +slaves, as richly clothed as those who carried the present to the +sultan, to walk by my side and follow me, and twenty more to go before +me in two ranks. Besides these, bring my mother six women slaves to +attend her, as richly dressed at least as any of the Princess Buddir +al Buddoor's, each carrying a complete dress fit for any sultaness. I +want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses; go, and make +haste."</p> + +<p>As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the genie disappeared, but +presently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom +carried each a purse containing ten thousand pieces of gold, and six +women slaves, each carrying on her head a different dress for +Aladdin's mother, wrapped up in a piece of silver tissue, and +presented them all to Aladdin.</p> + +<p>He presented the six women slaves to his mother, telling her they were +her slaves, and that the dresses they had brought were for her use. Of +the ten purses Aladdin took four, which he gave to his mother, telling +her those were to supply her with necessaries; the other six he left +in the hands of the slaves who brought them, with an order to throw +them by handfuls among the people as they went to the sultan's palace. +The six slaves who carried the purses he ordered likewise to march +before him, three on the right hand and three on the left.</p> + +<p>When Aladdin had thus prepared himself for his first interview with +the sultan, he dismissed the genie, and immediately mounting his +charger, began his march, and though he never was on horseback before, +appeared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> with a grace the most experienced horseman might envy. The +innumerable concourse of people through whom he passed made the air +echo with their acclamations, especially every time the six slaves who +carried the purses threw handfuls of gold among the populace.</p> + +<p>On Aladdin's arrival at the palace, the sultan was surprised to find +him more richly and magnificently robed than he had ever been himself, +and was impressed with his good looks and dignity of manner, which +were so different from what he expected in the son of one so humble as +Aladdin's mother. He embraced him with all the demonstrations of joy, +and when he would have fallen at his feet, held him by the hand, and +made him sit near his throne. He shortly after led him, amidst the +sounds of trumpets, hautboys, and all kinds of music, to a magnificent +entertainment, at which the sultan and Aladdin ate by themselves, and +the great lords of the court, according to their rank and dignity, sat +at different tables.</p> + +<p>After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief cadi, and commanded him +to draw up a contract of marriage between the Princess Buddir al +Buddoor and Aladdin. When the contract had been drawn, the sultan +asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace and complete the +ceremonies of the marriage that day.</p> + +<p>"Sire," said Aladdin, "though great is my impatience to enter on the +honor granted me by your majesty, yet I beg you to permit me first to +build a palace worthy to receive the princess your daughter. I pray +you to grant me sufficient ground near your palace, and I will have it +completed with the utmost expedition."</p> + +<p>The sultan granted Aladdin his request, and again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> embraced him. After +which he took his leave with as much politeness as if he had been bred +up and had always lived at court.</p> + +<p>Aladdin returned home in the order he had come, amidst the +acclamations of the people, who wished him all happiness and +prosperity. As soon as he dismounted, he retired to his own chamber, +took the lamp, and summoned the genie as usual, who professed his +allegiance.</p> + +<p>"Genie," said Aladdin, "build me a palace fit to receive the Princess +Buddir al Buddoor. Let its materials be made of nothing less than +porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, and the finest marble. Let its +walls be massive gold and silver bricks and laid alternately. Let each +front contain six windows, and let the lattices of these (except one, +which must be left unfinished) be enriched with diamonds, rubies, and +emeralds, so that they shall exceed everything of the kind ever seen +in the world. Let there be an inner and outer court in front of the +palace, and a spacious garden; but above all things, provide a safe +treasure house, and fill it with gold and silver. Let there be also +kitchens and storehouses, stables full of the finest horses, with +their equerries and grooms, and hunting equipage, officers, +attendants, and slaves, both men and women, to form a retinue for the +princess and myself. Go and execute my wishes."</p> + +<p>When Aladdin gave these commands to the genie, the sun was set. The +next morning at daybreak the genie presented himself, and, having +obtained Aladdin's consent, transported him in a moment to the palace +he had made. The genie led him through all the apartments, where he +found officers and slaves, habited according to their rank and the +services to which they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> appointed. The genie then showed him the +treasury, which was opened by a treasurer, where Aladdin saw large +vases of different sizes, piled up to the top with money, ranged all +around the chamber. The genie thence led him to the stables, where +were some of the finest horses in the world, and the grooms busy in +dressing them; from thence they went to the storehouses, which were +filled with all things necessary, both for food and ornament.</p> + +<p>When Aladdin had examined every portion of the palace, and +particularly the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and found it +far to exceed his fondest expectations, he said, "Genie, there is one +thing wanting, a fine carpet for the princess to walk upon from the +sultan's palace to mine. Lay one down immediately." The genie +disappeared, and Aladdin saw what he desired executed in an instant. +The genie then returned, and carried him to his own home.</p> + +<p>When the sultan's porters came to open the gates, they were amazed to +find what had been an unoccupied garden filled up with a magnificent +palace, and a splendid carpet extending to it all the way from the +sultan's palace. They told the strange tidings to the grand vizier, +who informed the sultan.</p> + +<p>"It must be Aladdin's palace," the sultan exclaimed, "which I gave him +leave to build for my daughter. He has wished to surprise us, and let +us see what wonders can be done in only one night."</p> + +<p>Aladdin, on his being conveyed by the genie to his own home, requested +his mother to go to the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, and tell her that +the palace would be ready for her reception in the evening. She went,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +attended by her women slaves, in the same order as on the preceding +day. Shortly after her arrival at the princess's apartment the sultan +himself came in, and was surprised to find her, whom he knew only as +his suppliant at his divan in humble guise, more richly and +sumptuously attired than his own daughter. This gave him a higher +opinion of Aladdin, who took such care of his mother, and made her +share his wealth and honors.</p> + +<p>Shortly after her departure, Aladdin, mounting his horse and attended +by his retinue of magnificent attendants, left his paternal home +forever, and went to the palace in the same pomp as on the day before. +Nor did he forget to take with him the wonderful lamp, to which he +owed all his good fortune, nor to wear the ring which was given him as +a talisman.</p> + +<p>The sultan entertained Aladdin with the utmost magnificence, and at +night, on the conclusion of the marriage ceremonies, the princess took +leave of the sultan her father. Bands of music led the procession, +followed by a hundred state ushers, and the like number of black +mutes, in two files, with their officers at their head. Four hundred +of the sultan's young pages carried flambeaux on each side, which, +together with the illuminations of the sultan's and Aladdin's palaces, +made it as light as day. In this order the princess, conveyed in her +litter, and accompanied also by Aladdin's mother, carried in a superb +litter and attended by her women slaves, proceeded on the carpet which +was spread from the sultan's palace to that of Aladdin.</p> + +<p>On her arrival Aladdin was ready to receive her at the entrance, and +led her into a large hall, illuminated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> with an infinite number of wax +candles, where a noble feast was served up. The dishes were of massy +gold, and contained the most delicate viands. The vases, basins, and +goblets were gold also, and of exquisite workmanship, and all the +other ornaments and embellishments of the hall were answerable to this +display. The princess, dazzled to see so much riches collected in one +place, said to Aladdin, "I thought, prince, that nothing in the world +was so beautiful as the sultan my father's palace, but the sight of +this hall alone is sufficient to show I was mistaken."</p> + +<p>When the supper was ended, there entered a company of female +dancers,<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> who performed, according to the custom of the country, +singing at the same time verses in praise of the bride and bridegroom. +About midnight Aladdin's mother conducted the bride to the nuptial +apartment, and he soon after retired.</p> + +<p>The next morning the attendants of Aladdin presented themselves to +dress him, and brought him another habit, as rich and magnificent as +that worn the day before. He then ordered one of the horses to be got +ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of a large troop of slaves +to the sultan's palace to entreat him to take a repast in the +princess's palace, attended by his grand vizier and all the lords of +his court. The sultan consented with pleasure, rose up immediately, +and, preceded by the principal officers of his palace, and followed by +all the great lords of his court, accompanied Aladdin.</p> + +<p>The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin's palace, the more he was +struck with its beauty; but when he entered it, when he came into the +hall and saw the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>windows, enriched with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, +all large perfect stones, he was completely surprised, and said to his +son-in-law, "This palace is one of the wonders of the world; for where +in all the world besides shall we find walls built of massy gold and +silver, and diamonds, rubies, and emeralds composing the windows? But +what most surprises me is that a hall of this magnificence should be +left with one of its windows incomplete and unfinished."</p> + +<p>"Sire," answered Aladdin, "the omission was by design, since I wished +that you should have the glory of finishing this hall."</p> + +<p>"I take your intention kindly," said the sultan, "and will give orders +about it immediately."</p> + +<p>After the sultan had finished this magnificent entertainment, provided +for him and for his court by Aladdin, he was informed that the +jewelers and goldsmiths attended; upon which he returned to the hall, +and showed them the window which was unfinished.</p> + +<p>"I sent for you," said he, "to fit up this window in as great +perfection as the rest. Examine them well, and make all the dispatch +you can."</p> + +<p>The jewelers and goldsmiths examined the three-and-twenty windows with +great attention, and after they had consulted together, to know what +each could furnish, they returned, and presented themselves before the +sultan, whose principal jeweler, undertaking to speak for the rest, +said, "Sire, we are all willing to exert our utmost care and industry +to obey you; but among us all we cannot furnish jewels enough for so +great a work."</p> + +<p>"I have more than are necessary," said the sultan. "Come to my palace, +and you shall choose what may answer your purpose."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the sultan returned to his palace he ordered his jewels to be +brought out, and the jewelers took a great quantity, particularly +those Aladdin had made him a present of, which they soon used, without +making any great advance in their work. They came again several times +for more, and in a month's time had not finished half their work. In +short, they used all the jewels the sultan had, and borrowed of the +vizier, but yet the work was not half done.</p> + +<p>Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeavors to make this window +like the rest were in vain, sent for the jewelers and goldsmiths, and +not only commanded them to desist from their work, but ordered them to +undo what they had begun, and to carry all their jewels back to the +sultan and to the vizier. They undid in a few hours what they had been +six weeks about, and retired, leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He +took the lamp, which he carried about him, rubbed it, and presently +the genie appeared.</p> + +<p>"Genie," said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to leave one of the +four-and-twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thou hast executed +my commands exactly; now I would have thee make it like the rest."</p> + +<p>The genie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the hall, and +returning soon after, found the window, as he wished it to be, like +the others.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the jewelers and goldsmiths repaired to the palace, +and were introduced into the sultan's presence, where the chief +jeweler presented the precious stones which he had brought back. The +sultan asked them if Aladdin had given them any reason for so doing, +and they answering that he had given them none, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> ordered a horse to +be brought, which he mounted, and rode to his son-in-law's palace, +with some few attendants on foot, to inquire why he had ordered the +completion of the window to be stopped.</p> + +<p>Aladdin met him at the gate, and without giving any reply to his +inquiries conducted him to the grand saloon, where the sultan, to his +great surprise, found that the window, which was left imperfect, +corresponded exactly with the others. He fancied at first that he was +mistaken, and examined the two windows on each side, and afterward all +the four-and-twenty; but when he was convinced that the window which +several workmen had been so long about was finished in so short a +time, he embraced Aladdin and kissed him between his eyes.</p> + +<p>"My son," said he, "what a man you are to do such surprising things +always in the twinkling of an eye! There is not your fellow in the +world; the more I know, the more I admire you."</p> + +<p>The sultan returned to the palace, and after this went frequently to +the window to contemplate and admire the wonderful palace of his +son-in-law.</p> + +<p>Aladdin did not confine himself in his palace, but went with much +state, sometimes to one mosque, and sometimes to another, to prayers, +or to visit the grand vizier or the principal lords of the court. +Every time he went out he caused two slaves, who walked by the side of +his horse, to throw handfuls of money among the people as he passed +through the streets and squares. This generosity gained him the love +and blessings of the people, and it was common for them to swear by +his head.<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> Thus Aladdin, while he paid all respect to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>the sultan, +won by his affable behavior and liberality the affection of the +people.</p> + +<p>Aladdin had conducted himself in this manner several years, when the +African magician, who had for some years dismissed him from his +recollection, determined to inform himself with certainty whether he +perished, as he supposed, in the subterranean cave or not. After he +had resorted to a long course of magic ceremonies, and had formed a +horoscope by which to ascertain Aladdin's fate, what was his surprise +to find the appearances to declare that Aladdin, instead of dying in +the cave, had made his escape, and was living in royal splendor by the +aid of the genie of the wonderful lamp!</p> + +<p>On the very next day the magician set out, and traveled with the +utmost haste to the capital of China, where, on his arrival, he took +up his lodgings in a khan.</p> + +<p>He then quickly learned about the wealth, charities, happiness, and +splendid palace of Prince Aladdin. Directly he saw the wonderful +fabric, he knew that none but the genies, the slaves of the lamp, +could have performed such wonders, and, piqued to the quick at +Aladdin's high estate, he returned to the khan.</p> + +<p>On his return he had recourse to an operation of geomancy to find out +where the lamp was—whether Aladdin carried it about with him, or +where he left it. The result of his consultation informed him, to his +great joy, that the lamp was in the palace.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, rubbing his hands in glee, "I shall have the lamp, +and I shall make Aladdin return to his original mean condition."</p> + +<p>The next day the magician learned from the chief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> superintendent of +the khan where he lodged that Aladdin had gone on a hunting expedition +which was to last for eight days, of which only three had expired. The +magician wanted to know no more. He resolved at once on his plans. He +went to a coppersmith, and asked for a dozen copper lamps; the master +of the shop told him he had not so many by him, but if he would have +patience till the next day he would have them ready. The magician +appointed his time, and desired him to take care that they should be +handsome and well polished.</p> + +<p>The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, paid the man +his full price, put them into a basket hanging on his arm, and went +directly to Aladdin's palace. As he approached, he began crying, "Who +will exchange old lamps for new?" And as he went along, a crowd of +children collected, who hooted, and thought him, as did all who +chanced to be passing by, a madman or a fool to offer to exchange new +lamps for old.</p> + +<p>The African magician regarded not their scoffs, hootings, or all they +could say to him, but still continued crying, "Who will exchange old +lamps for new?" He repeated this so often, walking backward and +forward in front of the palace, that the princess, who was then in the +hall of the four-and-twenty windows, hearing a man cry something, and +seeing a great mob crowding about him, sent one of her women slaves to +know what he cried.</p> + +<p>The slave returned, laughing so heartily that the princess rebuked +her.</p> + +<p>"Madam," answered the slave, laughing still, "who can forbear +laughing, to see an old man with a basket on his arm, full of fine new +lamps, asking to exchange them for old ones? The children and mob, +crowding about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> him so that he can hardly stir, make all the noise +they can in derision of him."</p> + +<p>Another female slave, hearing this, said, "Now you speak of lamps, I +know not whether the princess may have observed it, but there is an +old one upon a shelf of the Prince Aladdin's robing room, and whoever +owns it will not be sorry to find a new one in its stead. If the +princess chooses, she may have the pleasure of trying if this old man +is so silly as to give a new lamp for an old one, without taking +anything for the exchange."</p> + +<p>The princess, who knew not the value of the lamp and the interest that +Aladdin had to keep it safe, entered into the pleasantry and commanded +a slave to take it and make the exchange. The slave obeyed, went out +of the hall, and no sooner got to the palace gates than he saw the +African magician, called to him, and showing him the old lamp, said, +"Give me a new lamp for this."</p> + +<p>The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. There +could be no other such in this palace, where every utensil was gold or +silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the slave's hand, and thrusting +it as far as he could into his breast, offered him his basket, and +bade him choose which he liked best. The slave picked out one and +carried it to the princess; but the change was no sooner made than the +place rang with the shouts of the children, deriding the magician's +folly.</p> + +<p>The African magician stayed no longer near the palace, nor cried any +more, "New lamps for old," but made the best of his way to his khan. +His end was answered, and by his silence he got rid of the children +and the mob.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was out of sight of the two palaces he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> hastened down +the least-frequented streets. Having no more occasion for his lamps or +basket, he set all down in a spot where nobody saw him; then going +down another street or two, he walked till he came to one of the city +gates, and pursuing his way through the suburbs, which were very +extensive, at length he reached a lonely spot, where he stopped till +the darkness of the night, as the most suitable time for the design he +had in contemplation.</p> + +<p>When it became quite dark, he pulled the lamp out of his breast and +rubbed it. At that summons the genie appeared, and said, "What wouldst +thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all +those who have that lamp in their hands; both I and the other slaves +of the lamp."</p> + +<p>"I command thee," replied the magician, "to transport me immediately, +and the palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamp have built +in this city, with all the people in it, to Africa."</p> + +<p>The genie made no reply, but with the assistance of the other genies, +the slaves of the lamp, immediately transported him and the palace, +entire, to the spot whither he had been desired to convey it.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning when the sultan, according to custom, went to +contemplate and admire Aladdin's palace, his amazement was unbounded +to find that it could nowhere be seen. He could not comprehend how so +large a palace, which he had seen plainly every day for some years, +should vanish so soon and not leave the least remains behind. In his +perplexity he ordered the grand vizier to be sent for with expedition.</p> + +<p>The grand vizier, who, in secret, bore no good will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> to Aladdin, +intimated his suspicion that the palace was built by magic, and that +Aladdin had made his hunting excursion an excuse for the removal of +his palace with the same suddenness with which it had been erected. He +induced the sultan to send a detachment of his guard, and to have +Aladdin seized as a prisoner of state.</p> + +<p>On his son-in-law being brought before him, the sultan would not hear +a word from him, but ordered him to be put to death. But the decree +caused so much discontent among the people, whose affection Aladdin +had secured by his largesses and charities, that the sultan, fearful +of an insurrection, was obliged to grant him his life.</p> + +<p>When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he again addressed the sultan: +"Sire, I pray you to let me know the crime by which I have thus lost +the favor of thy countenance."</p> + +<p>"Your crime!" answered the sultan. "Wretched man, do you not know it? +Follow me, and I will show you."</p> + +<p>The sultan then took Aladdin into the apartment from whence he was +wont to look at and admire his palace, and said, "You ought to know +where your palace stood; look, mind, and tell me what has become of +it."</p> + +<p>Aladdin did so, and being utterly amazed at the loss of his palace, +was speechless. At last recovering himself, he said, "It is true, I do +not see the palace. It is vanished; but I had no concern in its +removal. I beg you to give me forty days, and if in that time I cannot +restore it, I will offer my head to be disposed of at your pleasure."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I give you the time you ask, but at the end of the forty days forget +not to present yourself before me."</p> + +<p>Aladdin went out of the sultan's palace in a condition of exceeding +humiliation. The lords who had courted him in the days of his splendor +now declined to have any communication with him. For three days he +wandered about the city, exciting the wonder and compassion of the +multitude by asking everybody he met if they had seen his palace, or +could tell him anything of it. On the third day he wandered into the +country, and as he was approaching a river he fell down the bank with +so much violence that he rubbed the ring which the magician had given +him so hard, by holding on to the rock to save himself, that +immediately the same genie appeared whom he had seen in the cave where +the magician had left him.</p> + +<p>"What wouldst thou have?" said the genie. "I am ready to obey thee as +thy slave, and the slave of all those that have that ring on their +finger; both I and the other slaves of the ring."</p> + +<p>Aladdin, agreeably surprised at an offer of help so little expected, +replied, "Genie, show me where the palace I caused to be built now +stands, or transport it back where it first stood."</p> + +<p>"Your command," answered the genie, "is not wholly in my power; I am +only the slave of the ring, and not of the lamp."</p> + +<p>"I command thee, then," replied Aladdin, "by the power of the ring, to +transport me to the spot where my palace stands, in what part of the +world soever it may be."</p> + +<p>These words were no sooner out of his mouth than the genie transported +him into Africa, to the midst of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> a large plain, where his palace +stood at no great distance from a city, and, placing him exactly under +the window of the princess's apartment, left him.</p> + +<p>Now it so happened that shortly after Aladdin had been transported by +the slave of the ring to the neighborhood of his palace, that one of +the attendants of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, looking through the +window, perceived him and instantly told her mistress. The princess, +who could not believe the joyful tidings, hastened herself to the +window, and seeing Aladdin, immediately opened it. The noise of +opening the window made Aladdin turn his head that way, and perceiving +the princess, he saluted her with an air that expressed his joy.</p> + +<p>"To lose no time," said she to him, "I have sent to have the private +door opened for you; enter, and come up."</p> + +<p>The private door, which was just under the princess's apartment, was +soon opened, and Aladdin was conducted up into the chamber. It is +impossible to express the joy of both at seeing each other, after so +cruel a separation. After embracing and shedding tears of joy, they +sat down, and Aladdin said, "I beg of you, princess, to tell me what +is become of an old lamp which stood upon a shelf in my robing +chamber."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" answered the princess, "I was afraid our misfortune might be +owing to that lamp; and what grieves me most is that I have been the +cause of it. I was foolish enough to exchange the old lamp for a new +one, and the next morning I found myself in this unknown country, +which I am told is Africa."</p> + +<p>"Princess," said Aladdin, interrupting her, "you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> have explained all +by telling me we are in Africa. I desire you only to tell me if you +know where the old lamp now is."</p> + +<p>"The African magician carries it carefully wrapped up in his bosom," +said the princess; "and this I can assure you, because he pulled it +out before me, and showed it to me in triumph."</p> + +<p>"Princess," said Aladdin, "I think I have found the means to deliver +you and to regain possession of the lamp, on which all my prosperity +depends. To execute this design, it is necessary for me to go to the +town. I shall return by noon, and will then tell you what must be done +by you to insure success. In the meantime, I shall disguise myself, +and I beg that the private door may be opened at the first knock."</p> + +<p>When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked round him on all sides, +and perceiving a peasant going into the country, hastened after him. +When he had overtaken him, he made a proposal to him to change +clothes, which the man agreed to. When they had made the exchange, the +countryman went about his business, and Aladdin entered the +neighboring city. After traversing several streets, he came to that +part of the town where the merchants and artisans had their particular +streets according to their trades.<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> He went into that of the +druggists; and entering one of the largest and best furnished shops, +asked the druggist if he had a certain powder, which he named.</p> + +<p>The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span>very poor, told him +he had it, but that it was very dear; upon which Aladdin, penetrating +his thoughts, pulled out his purse, and showing him some gold, asked +for half a dram of the powder, which the druggist weighed and gave +him, telling him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdin put the money +into his hand, and hastened to the palace, which he entered at once by +the private door.</p> + +<p>When he came into the princess's apartment he said to her, "Princess, +you must take your part in the scheme which I propose for our +deliverance. You must overcome your aversion for the magician, and +assume a most friendly manner toward him, and ask him to oblige you by +partaking of an entertainment in your apartments. Before he leaves, +ask him to exchange cups with you, which he, gratified at the honor +you do him, will gladly do, when you must give him the cup containing +this powder. On drinking it he will instantly fall asleep, and we will +obtain the lamp, whose slaves will do all our bidding, and restore us +and the palace to the capital of China."</p> + +<p>The princess obeyed to the utmost her husband's instructions. She +assumed a look of pleasure on the next visit of the magician, and +asked him to an entertainment, which he most willingly accepted. At +the close of the evening, during which the princess had tried all she +could to please him, she asked him to exchange cups with her, and +giving the signal, had the drugged cup brought to her, which she gave +to the magician. Out of compliment to the princess he drank it to the +very last drop, when he fell back lifeless on the sofa.</p> + +<p>The princess, in anticipation of the success of her scheme, had so +placed her women from the great hall to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> the foot of the staircase +that the word was no sooner given that the African magician was fallen +backward, than the door was opened, and Aladdin admitted to the hall. +The princess rose from her seat, and ran, overjoyed, to embrace him; +but he stopped her, and said, "Princess, retire to your apartment; and +let me be left alone, while I endeavor to transport you back to China +as speedily as you were brought from thence."</p> + +<p>When the princess, her women, and slaves were gone out of the hall, +Aladdin shut the door, and going directly to the dead body of the +magician, opened his vest, took out the lamp, which was carefully +wrapped up, and rubbing it, the genie immediately appeared.</p> + +<p>"Genie," said Aladdin, "I command thee to transport this palace +instantly to the place from whence it was brought hither."</p> + +<p>The genie bowed his head in token of obedience, and disappeared. +Immediately the palace was transported into China, and its removal was +felt only by two little shocks, the one when it was lifted up, the +other when it was set down, and both in a very short interval of time.</p> + +<p>On the morning after the restoration of Aladdin's palace the sultan +was looking out of his window, mourning over the fate of his daughter, +when he thought that he saw the vacancy created by the disappearance +of the palace to be again filled up.</p> + +<p>On looking more attentively, he was convinced beyond the power of +doubt that it was his son-in-law's palace. Joy and gladness succeeded +to sorrow and grief. He at once ordered a horse to be saddled, which +he mounted that instant, thinking he could not make haste enough to +the place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>Aladdin rose that morning by daybreak, put on one of the most +magnificent habits his wardrobe afforded, and went up into the hall of +the twenty-four windows, from whence he perceived the sultan +approaching, and received him at the foot of the great staircase, +helping him to dismount.</p> + +<p>He led the sultan into the princess's apartment. The happy father +embraced her with tears of joy; and the princess, on her side, +afforded similar testimonies of her extreme pleasure. After a short +interval, devoted to mutual explanations of all that had happened, the +sultan restored Aladdin to his favor, and expressed his regret for the +apparent harshness with which he had treated him.</p> + +<p>"My son," said he, "be not displeased at my proceedings against you; +they arose from my paternal love, and therefore you ought to forgive +the excesses to which it hurried me."</p> + +<p>"Sire," replied Aladdin, "I have not the least reason to complain of +your conduct, since you did nothing but what your duty required. This +infamous magician, the basest of men, was the sole cause of my +misfortune."</p> + +<p>The African magician, who was thus twice foiled in his endeavor to +rain Aladdin, had a younger brother, who was as skillful a magician as +himself and exceeded him in wickedness and hatred of mankind. By +mutual agreement they communicated with each other once a year, +however widely separate might be their place of residence from each +other. The younger brother, not having received as usual his annual +communication, prepared to take a horoscope and ascertain his +brother's proceedings. He, as well as his brother, always carried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> a +geomantic square instrument about him; he prepared the sand,<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> cast +the points, and drew the figures. On examining the planetary crystal, +he found that his brother was no longer living, but had been poisoned; +and by another observation, that he was in the capital of the kingdom +of China; also, that the person who had poisoned him was of mean +birth, though married to a princess, a sultan's daughter.</p> + +<p>When the magician had informed himself of his brother's fate he +resolved immediately to avenge his death, and at once departed for +China; where, after crossing plains, rivers, mountains, deserts, and a +long tract of country without delay, he arrived after incredible +fatigues. When he came to the capital of China he took a lodging at a +khan. His magic art soon revealed to him that Aladdin was the person +who had been the cause of the death of his brother. He had heard, too, +all the persons of repute in the city talking of a woman called +Fatima, who was retired from the world, and of the miracles she +wrought. As he fancied that this woman might be serviceable to him in +the project he had conceived, he made more minute inquiries, and +requested to be informed more particularly who that holy woman was, +and what sort of miracles she performed.</p> + +<p>"What!" said the person whom he addressed, "have you never seen or +heard of her? She is the admiration of the whole town, for her +fasting, her austerities, and her exemplary life. Except Mondays and +Fridays, she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>never stirs out of her little cell; and on those days on +which she comes into the town she does an infinite deal of good; for +there is not a person who is diseased but she puts her hand on him and +cures him."</p> + +<p>Having ascertained the place where the hermitage of this holy woman +was, the magician went at night, and plunged a poniard into her +heart—killed this good woman. In the morning he dyed his face of the +same hue as hers, and arraying himself in her garb, taking her veil, +the large necklace she wore round her waist, and her stick, went +straight to the palace of Aladdin.</p> + +<p>As soon as the people saw the holy woman, as they imagined him to be, +they presently gathered about him in a great crowd. Some begged his +blessing, others kissed his hand, and others, more reserved, kissed +only the hem of his garment; while others, suffering from disease, +stooped for him to lay his hands upon them; which he did, muttering +some words in form of prayer, and, in short, counterfeiting so well +that everybody took him for the holy woman. He came at last to the +square before Aladdin's palace. The crowd and the noise were so great +that the princess, who was in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows, +heard it, and asked what was the matter. One of her women told her it +was a great crowd of people collected about the holy woman to be cured +of diseases by the imposition of her hands.</p> + +<p>The princess, who had long heard of this holy woman, but had never +seen her, was very desirous to have some conversation with her. The +chief officer perceiving this, told her it was an easy matter to bring +the woman to her if she desired and commanded it; and the princess<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +expressing her wishes, he immediately sent four slaves for the +pretended holy woman.</p> + +<p>As soon as the crowd saw the attendants from the palace, they made +way; and the magician, perceiving also that they were coming for him, +advanced to meet them, overjoyed to find his plot succeed so well.</p> + +<p>"Holy woman," said one of the slaves, "the princess wishes to see you, +and has sent us for you."</p> + +<p>"The princess does me too great an honor," replied the false Fatima; +"I am ready to obey her command." And at the same time he followed the +slaves to the palace.</p> + +<p>When the pretended Fatima had made his obeisance, the princess said, +"My good mother, I have one thing to request, which you must not +refuse me; it is, to stay with me, that you may edify me with your way +of living, and that I may learn from your good example."</p> + +<p>"Princess," said the counterfeit Fatima, "I beg of you not to ask what +I cannot consent to without neglecting my prayers and devotion."</p> + +<p>"That shall be no hindrance to you," answered the princess; "I have a +great many apartments unoccupied; you shall choose which you like +best, and have as much liberty to perform your devotions as if you +were in your own cell."</p> + +<p>The magician, who really desired nothing more than to introduce +himself into the palace, where it would be a much easier matter for +him to execute his designs, did not long excuse himself from accepting +the obliging offer which the princess made him.</p> + +<p>"Princess," said he, "whatever resolution a poor wretched woman as I +am may have made to renounce the pomp and grandeur of this world, I +dare not presume<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> to oppose the will and commands of so pious and +charitable a princess."</p> + +<p>Upon this the princess, rising up, said, "Come with me. I will show +you what vacant apartments I have, that you may make choice of that +you like best."</p> + +<p>The magician followed the princess, and of all the apartments she +showed him, made choice of that which was the worst, saying that was +too good for him, and that he only accepted it to please her.</p> + +<p>Afterward the princess would have brought him back again into the +great hall to make him dine with her; but he, considering that he +should then be obliged to show his face, which he had always taken +care to conceal with Fatima's veil, and fearing that the princess +would find out that he was not Fatima, begged of her earnestly to +excuse him, telling her that he never ate anything but bread and dried +fruits, and desiring to eat that slight repast in his own apartment.</p> + +<p>The princess granted his request, saying, "You may be as free here, +good mother, as if you were in your own cell: I will order you a +dinner, but remember, I expect you as soon as you have finished your +repast."</p> + +<p>After the princess had dined, and the false Fatima had been sent for +by one of the attendants, he again waited upon her. "My good mother," +said the princess, "I am overjoyed to see so holy a woman as yourself, +who will confer a blessing upon this palace. But now I am speaking of +the palace, pray how do you like it? And before I show it all to you, +tell me first what you think of this hall."</p> + +<p>Upon this question, the counterfeit Fatima surveyed the hall from one +end to the other. When he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> examined it well, he said to the +princess, "As far as such a solitary being as I am, who am +unacquainted with what the world calls beautiful, can judge, this hall +is truly admirable; there wants but one thing."</p> + +<p>"What is that, good mother?" demanded the princess; "tell me, I +conjure you. For my part, I always believed, and have heard say, it +wanted nothing; but if it does, it shall be supplied."</p> + +<p>"Princess," said the false Fatima, with great dis-simulation, "forgive +me the liberty I have taken; but my opinion is, if it can be of any +importance, that if a roc's egg were hung up in the middle of the +dome, this hall would have no parallel in the four quarters of the +world, and your palace would be the wonder of the universe."</p> + +<p>"My good mother," said the princess, "what is a roc, and where may one +get an egg?"</p> + +<p>"Princess," replied the pretended Fatima, "it is a bird of prodigious +size, which inhabits the summit of Mount Caucasus; the architect who +built your palace can get you one."</p> + +<p>After the princess had thanked the false Fatima for what she believed +her good advice, she conversed with her upon other matters; but she +could not forget the roc's egg, which she resolved to request of +Aladdin when next he should visit his apartments. He did so in the +course of that evening, and shortly after he entered, the princess +thus addressed him: "I always believed that our palace was the most +superb, magnificent, and complete in the world: but I will tell you +now what it wants, and that is a roc's egg hung up in the midst of the +dome."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Princess," replied Aladdin, "it is enough that you think it wants +such an ornament; you shall see by the diligence which I use in +obtaining it, that there is nothing which I would not do for your +sake."</p> + +<p>Aladdin left the Princess Buddir al Buddoor that moment, and went up +into the hall of four-and-twenty windows, where, pulling out of his +bosom the lamp, which after the danger he had been exposed to he +always carried about him, he rubbed it; upon which the genie +immediately appeared.</p> + +<p>"Genie," said Aladdin, "I command thee, in the name of this lamp, +bring a roc's egg to be hung up in the middle of the dome of the hall +of the palace."</p> + +<p>Aladdin had no sooner pronounced these words than the hall shook as if +ready to fall; and the genie said, in a loud and terrible voice, "Is +it not enough that I and the other slaves of the lamp have done +everything for you, but you, by an unheard-of ingratitude, must +command me to bring my master, and hang him up in the midst of this +dome? This attempt deserves that you, the princess, and the palace +should be immediately reduced to ashes; but you are spared because +this request does not come from yourself. Its true author is the +brother of the African magician, your enemy whom you have destroyed. +He is now in your palace, disguised in the habit of the holy woman +Fatima, whom he has murdered; at his suggestion your wife makes this +pernicious demand. His design is to kill you; therefore take care of +yourself." After these words the genie disappeared.</p> + +<p>Aladdin resolved at once what to do. He returned to the princess's +apartment, and without mentioning a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> word of what had happened, sat +down, and complained of a great pain which had suddenly seized his +head. On hearing this, the princess told him how she had invited the +holy Fatima to stay with her, and that she was now in the palace; and +at the request of the prince, ordered her to be summoned to her at +once.</p> + +<p>When the pretended Fatima came, Aladdin said, "Come hither, good +mother; I am glad to see you here at so fortunate a time. I am +tormented with a violent pain in my head, and request your assistance, +and hope you will not refuse me that cure which you impart to +afflicted persons."</p> + +<p>So saying, he arose, but held down his head. The counterfeit Fatima +advanced toward him, with his hand all the time on a dagger concealed +in his girdle under his gown. Observing this, Aladdin snatched the +weapon from his hand, pierced him to the heart with his own dagger, +and then pushed him down on the floor.</p> + +<p>"My dear prince, what have you done?" cried the princess, in surprise. +"You have killed the holy woman!"</p> + +<p>"No, my princess," answered Aladdin, with emotion, "I have not killed +Fatima, but a villain who would have assassinated me, if I had not +prevented him. This wicked man," added he, uncovering his face, "is +the brother of the magician who attempted our ruin. He has strangled +the true Fatima, and disguised himself in her clothes with intent to +murder me."</p> + +<p>Aladdin then informed her how the genie had told him these facts, and +how narrowly she and the palace had escaped destruction though his +treacherous suggestion which had led to her request.</p> + +<p>Thus was Aladdin delivered from the persecution of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> the two brothers, +who were magicians. Within a few years the sultan died in a good old +age, and as he left no male children, the Princess Buddir al Buddoor +succeeded him, and she and Aladdin reigned together many years, and +left a numerous and illustrious posterity.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/image_012.jpg" width="500" height="571" alt="Illustration" /> +</div> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> Aladdin signifies "The Nobility of the Religion."—Lane, +Vol. II, p. 285.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> Ballas rubies are rubies of the brightest color.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Sir Paul Ricaut says that the divan is not held on two +successive days.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> A Turkish word for a bath.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> These were the "Nautch girls," attached to this day to +all Eastern courts.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> There is a trace of this custom in Joseph swearing to +his brethren, "By the life of Pharaoh, ye are spies!"</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> This location of persons of one trade in one part of a +town was once common in England. Hence the "Draper's Lane" and +"Butcher's Row," found in many of our large towns; and the "Old +Jewry," "Lombard Street," and "Cheapside," of London.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Reml or Raml signifies "sand prepared," or a preparation +of sand on which are marked certain figures serving for a kind of +divination, which we call Geomancy; and the Arabs and Turks <i>Kikmut al +Reml</i>. These disposed in a certain number on many unequal lines, are +described also with a pen on paper; and the person who practices +divination by this art is called <i>Rammal</i>.—D'Herbelot, art. "Raml."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_HISTORY_OF_ALI_BABA_AND_OF_THE_FORTY_ROBBERS_KILLED_BY_ONE_SLAVE" id="THE_HISTORY_OF_ALI_BABA_AND_OF_THE_FORTY_ROBBERS_KILLED_BY_ONE_SLAVE"></a>THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS KILLED BY ONE SLAVE</h2> + + +<p>There once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named Cassim +and the other Ali Baba. Their father divided a small inheritance +equally between them. Cassim married a very rich wife, and became a +wealthy merchant. Ali Baba married a woman as poor as himself, and +lived by cutting wood, and bringing it upon three asses into the town +to sell.</p> + +<p>One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest and had just cut wood enough +to load his asses, he saw at a distance a great cloud of dust, which +seemed to approach him. He observed it with attention, and +distinguished soon after a body of horsemen, whom he suspected might +be robbers. He determined to leave his asses to save himself. He +climbed up a large tree, planted on a high rock, whose branches were +thick enough to conceal him, and yet enabled him to see all that +passed without being discovered.</p> + +<p>The troop, who were to the number of forty, all well mounted and +armed, came to the foot of the rock on which the tree stood, and there +dismounted. Every man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub, and +hung about his neck a bag of corn which they had brought behind them. +Then each of them took off his saddle-bag, which seemed to Ali Baba +from its weight to be full of gold and silver. One, whom he took to be +their captain, came under the tree in which Ali Baba was concealed; +and making his way through some shrubs,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> pronounced these words: +"Open, Sesame!"<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> As soon as the captain of the robbers had thus +spoken, a door opened in the rock; and after he had made all his troop +enter before him, he followed them, when the door shut again of +itself.</p> + +<p>The robbers stayed some time within the rock, during which Ali Baba, +fearful of being caught, remained in the tree.</p> + +<p>At last the door opened again, and as the captain went in last, so he +came out first, and stood to see them all pass by him; when Ali Baba +heard him make the door close by pronouncing these words, "Shut, +Sesame!" Every man at once went and bridled his horse, fastened his +wallet, and mounted again. When the captain saw them all ready, he put +himself at their head, and they returned the way they had come.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba followed them with his eyes as far as he could see them; and +afterward stayed a considerable time before he descended. Remembering +the words the captain of the robbers used to cause the door to open +and shut, he had the curiosity to try if his pronouncing them would +have the same effect. Accordingly, he went among the shrubs, and +perceiving the door concealed behind them, stood before it, and said, +"Open, Sesame!" The door instantly flew wide open.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba, who expected a dark, dismal cavern, was surprised to see a +well-lighted and spacious chamber, which received the light from an +opening at the top of the rock, and in which were all sorts of +provisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade, and valuable +carpeting, piled upon one another, gold and silver ingots in great +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>heaps, and money in bags. The sight of all these riches made him +suppose that this cave must have been occupied for ages by robbers, +who had succeeded one another.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and collected as much of the gold +coin, which was in bags, as he thought his three asses could carry. +When he had loaded them with the bags, he laid wood over them in such +a manner that they could not be seen. When he had passed in and out as +often as he wished, he stood before the door, and pronouncing the +words, "Shut, Sesame!" the door closed of itself. He then made the +best of his way to town.</p> + +<p>When Ali Baba got home he drove his asses into a little yard, shut the +gates very carefully, threw off the wood that covered the panniers, +carried the bags into his house, and ranged them in order before his +wife. He then emptied the bags, which raised such a great heap of gold +as dazzled his wife's eyes, and then he told her the whole adventure +from beginning to end, and, above all, recommended her to keep it +secret.</p> + +<p>The wife rejoiced greatly at their good fortune, and would count all +the gold piece by piece.</p> + +<p>"Wife," replied Ali Baba, "you do not know what you undertake, when +you pretend to count the money; you will never have done. I will dig a +hole, and bury it. There is no time to be lost."</p> + +<p>"You are in the right, husband," replied she, "but let us know, as +nigh as possible, how much we have. I will borrow a small measure, and +measure it, while you dig the hole."</p> + +<p>Away the wife ran to her brother-in-law Cassim, who lived just by, and +addressing herself to his wife, desired<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> that she lend her a measure +for a little while. Her sister-in-law asked her whether she would have +a great or a small one. The other asked for a small one. She bade her +stay a little, and she would readily fetch one.</p> + +<p>The sister-in-law did so, but as she knew Ali Baba's poverty, she was +curious to know what sort of grain his wife wanted to measure, and +artfully putting some suet at the bottom of the measure, brought it to +her, with an excuse that she was sorry that she had made her stay so +long, but that she could not find it sooner.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba's wife went home, set the measure upon the heap of gold, +filled it, and emptied it often upon the sofa, till she had done, when +she was very well satisfied to find the number of measures amounted to +so many as they did, and went to tell her husband, who had almost +finished digging the hole. When Ali Baba was burying the gold, his +wife, to show her exactness and diligence to her sister-in-law, +carried the measure back again, but without taking notice that a piece +of gold had stuck to the bottom.</p> + +<p>"Sister," said she, giving it to her again, "you see that I have not +kept your measure long. I am obliged to you for it, and return it with +thanks."</p> + +<p>As soon as Ali Baba's wife was gone, Cassim's looked at the bottom of +the measure, and was in inexpressible surprise to find a piece of gold +sticking to it. Envy immediately possessed her breast.</p> + +<p>"What!" said she, "has Ali Baba gold so plentiful as to measure it? +Whence has he all this wealth?"</p> + +<p>Cassim, her husband, was at his counting house. When he came home his +wife said to him, "Cassim, I know you think yourself rich, but Ali +Baba is infinitely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> richer than you. He does not count his money, but +measures it."</p> + +<p>Cassim desired her to explain the riddle, which she did, by telling +him the stratagem she had used to make the discovery, and showed him +the piece of money, which was so old that they could not tell in what +prince's reign it was coined.</p> + +<p>Cassim, after he had married the rich widow, had never treated Ali +Baba as a brother, but neglected him; and now, instead of being +pleased, he conceived a base envy at his brother's prosperity. He +could not sleep all that night, and went to him in the morning before +sunrise.</p> + +<p>"Ali Baba," said he, "I am surprised at you. You pretend to be +miserably poor, and yet you measure gold. My wife found this at the +bottom of the measure you borrowed yesterday."</p> + +<p>By this discourse, Ali Baba perceived that Cassim and his wife, +through his own wife's folly, knew what they had so much reason to +conceal; but what was done could not be undone. Therefore, without +showing the least surprise or trouble, he confessed all, and offered +his brother part of his treasure to keep the secret.</p> + +<p>"I expect as much," replied Cassim haughtily; "but I must know exactly +where this treasure is, and how I may visit it myself when I choose. +Otherwise I will go and inform against you, and then you will not only +get no more, but will lose all you have, and I shall have a share for +my information."</p> + +<p>Ali Baba told him all he desired, even to the very words he was to use +to gain admission into the cave.</p> + +<p>Cassim rose the next morning long before the sun,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> and set out for the +forest with ten mules bearing great chests, which he designed to fill, +and followed the road which Ali Baba had pointed out to him. He was +not long before he reached the rock, and found out the place, by the +tree and other marks which his brother had given him. When he reached +the entrance of the cavern, he pronounced the words, "Open, Sesame!" +The door immediately opened, and, when he was in, closed upon him. In +examining the cave, he was in great admiration to find much more +riches than he had expected from Ali Baba's relation. He quickly laid +as many bags of gold as he could carry at the door of the cavern; but +his thoughts were so full of the great riches he should possess that +he could not think of the necessary word to make it open, but instead +of "Sesame," said, "Open, Barley!" and was much amazed to find that +the door remained fast shut. He named several sorts of grain, but +still the door would not open.</p> + +<p>Cassim had never expected such an incident, and was so alarmed at the +danger he was in, that the more he endeavored to remember the word +"Sesame," the more his memory was confounded, and he had as much +forgotten it as if he had never heard it mentioned. He threw down the +bags he had loaded himself with, and walked distractedly up and down +the cave, without having the least regard to the riches that were +around him.</p> + +<p>About noon the robbers visited their cave. At some distance they saw +Cassim's mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on their +backs. Alarmed at this, they galloped full speed to the cave. They +drove away the mules, who strayed through the forest so far that they +were soon out of sight, and went directly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> with their naked sabers in +their hands, to the door, which, on their captain pronouncing the +proper words, immediately opened.</p> + +<p>Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses' feet, at once guessed the +arrival of the robbers, and resolved to make one effort for his life. +He rushed to the door, and no sooner saw the door open, than he ran +out and threw the leader down, but could not escape the other robbers, +who with their scimitars soon deprived him of life.</p> + +<p>The first care of the robbers after this was to examine the cave. They +found all the bags which Cassim had brought to the door, to be ready +to load his mules, and carried them again to their places, but they +did not miss what Ali Baba had taken away before. Then holding a +council, and deliberating upon this occurrence, they guessed that +Cassim, when he was in, could not get out again, but could not imagine +how he had learned the secret words by which alone he could enter. +They could not deny the fact of his being there; and to terrify any +person or accomplice who should attempt the same thing, they agreed to +cut Cassim's body into four quarters—to hang two on one side, and two +on the other, within the door of the cave. They had no sooner taken +this resolution than they put it in execution; and when they had +nothing more to detain them, left the place of their hoards well +closed. They mounted their horses, went to beat the roads again, and +to attack the caravans they might meet.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Cassim's wife was very uneasy when night came, and +her husband was not returned. She ran to Ali Baba in great alarm, and +said, "I believe, brother-in-law, that you know Cassim is gone to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +forest, and upon what account. It is now night, and he has not +returned. I am afraid some misfortune has happened to him."</p> + +<p>Ali Baba told her that she need not frighten herself, for that +certainly Cassim would not think it proper to come into the town till +the night should be pretty far advanced.</p> + +<p>Cassim's wife, considering how much it concerned her husband to keep +the business secret, was the more easily persuaded to believe her +brother-in-law. She went home again, and waited patiently till +midnight. Then her fear redoubled, and her grief was the more sensible +because she was forced to keep it to herself. She repented of her +foolish curiosity, and cursed her desire of prying into the affairs of +her brother and sister-in-law. She spent all the night in weeping; and +as soon as it was day went to them, telling them, by her tears, the +cause of her coming.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba did not wait for his sister-in-law to desire him to go to see +what was become of Cassim, but departed immediately with his three +asses, begging of her first to moderate her grief. He went to the +forest, and when he came near the rock, having seen neither his +brother nor his mules on his way, was seriously alarmed at finding +some blood spilt near the door, which he took for an ill omen; but +when he had pronounced the word, and the door had opened, he was +struck with horror at the dismal sight of his brother's body. He was +not long in determining how he should pay the last dues to his +brother; but without adverting to the little fraternal affection he +had shown for him, went into the cave, to find something to enshroud +his remains. Having loaded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> one of his asses with them, he covered +them over with wood. The other two asses he loaded with bags of gold, +covering them with wood also as before; and then, bidding the door +shut, he came away; but was so cautious as to stop some time at the +end of the forest, that he might not go into the town before night. +When he came home he drove the two asses loaded with gold into his +little yard, and left the care of unloading them to his wife, while he +led the other to his sister-in-law's house.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, a clever, +intelligent slave, who was fruitful in inventions to meet the most +difficult circumstances. When he came into the court he unloaded the +ass, and taking Morgiana aside, said to her, "You must observe an +inviolable secrecy. Your master's body is contained in these two +panniers. We must bury him as if he had died a natural death. Go now +and tell your mistress. I leave the matter to your wit and skillful +devices."</p> + +<p>Ali Baba helped to place the body in Cassim's house, again recommended +to Morgiana to act her part well, and then returned with his ass.</p> + +<p>Morgiana went out early the next morning to a druggist and asked for a +sort of lozenge which was considered efficacious in the most dangerous +disorders. The apothecary inquired who was ill. She replied, with a +sigh, her good master Cassim himself; and that he could neither eat +nor speak.</p> + +<p>In the evening Morgiana went to the same druggist again, and with +tears in her eyes, asked for an essence which they used to give to +sick people only when in the last extremity.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said she, taking it from the apothecary, "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> am afraid that +this remedy will have no better effect than the lozenges; and that I +shall lose my good master."</p> + +<p>On the other hand, as Ali Baba and his wife were often seen to go +between Cassim's and their own house all that day, and to seem +melancholy, nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the lamentable +shrieks and cries of Cassim's wife and Morgiana, who gave out +everywhere that her master was dead. The next morning at daybreak, +Morgiana went to an old cobbler whom she knew to be always ready at +his stall, and bidding him good morrow, put a piece of gold into his +hand, saying, "Baba Mustapha, you must bring with you your sewing +tackle, and come with me; but I must tell you, I shall blindfold you +when you come to such a place."</p> + +<p>Baba Mustapha seemed to hesitate a little at these words. "Oh! oh!" +replied he, "you would have me do something against my conscience, or +against my honor?"</p> + +<p>"God forbid," said Morgiana, putting another piece of gold into his +hand, "that I should ask anything that is contrary to your honor! Only +come along with me, and fear nothing."</p> + +<p>Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after she had bound his eyes +with a handkerchief at the place she had mentioned, conveyed him to +her deceased master's house, and never unloosed his eyes till he had +entered the room where she had put the corpse together. "Baba +Mustapha," said she, "you must make haste and sew the parts of this +body together; and when you have done, I will give you another piece +of gold."</p> + +<p>After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she blindfolded him again, +gave him the third piece of gold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> as she had promised, and +recommending secrecy to him, carried him back to the place where she +first bound his eyes, pulled off the bandage, and let him go home, but +watched him that he returned toward his stall, till he was quite out +of sight, for fear he should have the curiosity to return and dodge +her; she then went home.</p> + +<p>Morgiana, on her return, warmed some water to wash the body, and at +the same time Ali Baba perfumed it with incense, and wrapped it in the +burying clothes with the accustomed ceremonies. Not long after the +proper officer brought the bier, and when the attendants of the +mosque, whose business it was to wash the dead, offered to perform +their duty, she told them it was done already. Shortly after this the +imaun and the other ministers of the mosque arrived. Four neighbors +carried the corpse to the burying-ground, following the imaun, who +recited some prayers. Ali Baba came after with some neighbors, who +often relieved the others in carrying the bier to the burying-ground. +Morgiana, a slave to the deceased, followed in the procession, +weeping, beating her breast, and tearing her hair. Cassim's wife +stayed at home mourning, uttering lamentable cries with the women of +the neighborhood, who came, according to custom, during the funeral, +and joining their lamentations with hers filled the quarter far and +near with sounds of sorrow.</p> + +<p>In this manner Cassim's melancholy death was concealed and hushed up +between Ali Baba, his widow, and Morgiana his slave, with so much +contrivance that nobody in the city had the least knowledge or +suspicion of the cause of it. Three or four days after the funeral, +Ali Baba removed his few goods openly to his sister's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> house, in which +it was agreed that he should in future live; but the money he had +taken from the robbers he conveyed thither by night. As for Cassim's +warehouse, he intrusted it entirely to the management of his eldest +son.</p> + +<p>While these things were being done, the forty robbers again visited +their retreat in the forest. Great, then, was their surprise to find +Cassim's body taken away, with some of their bags of gold. "We are +certainly discovered," said the captain. "The removal of the body and +the loss of some of our money, plainly shows that the man whom we +killed had an accomplice: and for our own lives' sake we must try to +find him. What say you, my lads?"</p> + +<p>All the robbers unanimously approved of the captain's proposal.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the captain, "one of you, the boldest and most skillful +among you, must go into the town, disguised as a traveler and a +stranger, to try if he can hear any talk of the man whom we have +killed, and endeavor to find out who he was, and where he lived. This +is a matter of the first importance, and for fear of any treachery I +propose that whoever undertakes this business without success, even +though the failure arises only from an error of judgment, shall suffer +death."</p> + +<p>Without waiting for the sentiments of his companions, one of the +robbers started up, and said, "I submit to this condition, and think +it an honor to expose my life to serve the troop."</p> + +<p>After this robber had received great commendations from the captain +and his comrades, he disguised himself so that nobody would take him +for what he was; and taking his leave of the troop that night, he went +into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> town just at daybreak. He walked up and down, till +accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha's stall, which was always open +before any of the shops.</p> + +<p>Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to work. +The robber saluted him, bidding him good morrow; and perceiving that +he was old, said, "Honest man, you begin to work very early; is it +possible that one of your age can see so well? I question, even if it +were somewhat lighter, whether you could see to stitch."</p> + +<p>"You do not know me," replied Baba Mustapha; "for old as I am, I have +extraordinary good eyes; and you will not doubt it when I tell you +that I sewed the body of a dead man together in a place where I had +not so much light as I have now."</p> + +<p>"A dead body!" exclaimed the robber, with affected amazement.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," answered Baba Mustapha. "I see you want me to speak out, +but you shall know no more."</p> + +<p>The robber felt sure that he had discovered what he sought. He pulled +out a piece of gold, and putting it into Baba Mustapha's hand, said to +him, "I do not want to learn your secret, though I can assure you you +might safely trust me with it. The only thing I desire of you is to +show me the house where you stitched up the dead body."</p> + +<p>"If I were disposed to do you that favor," replied Baba Mustapha, "I +assure you I cannot. I was taken to a certain place, whence I was led +blindfold to the house, and afterward brought back in the same manner. +You see, therefore, the impossibility of my doing what you desire."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," replied the robber, "you may, however, remember a little of +the way that you were led blindfold. Come, let me blind your eyes at +the same place. We will walk together; perhaps you may recognize some +part, and as every one should be paid for his trouble here is another +piece of gold for you; gratify me in what I ask you." So saying, he +put another piece of gold into his hand.</p> + +<p>The two pieces of gold were great temptations to Baba Mustapha. He +looked at them a long time in his hand, without saying a word, but at +last he pulled out his purse and put them in.</p> + +<p>"I cannot promise," said he to the robber, "that I can remember the +way exactly; but since you desire, I will try what I can do."</p> + +<p>At these words Baba Mustapha rose up, to the great joy of the robber, +and led him to the place where Morgiana had bound his eyes.</p> + +<p>"It was here," said Baba Mustapha, "I was blindfolded; and I turned +this way."</p> + +<p>The robber tied his handkerchief over his eyes, and walked by him till +he stopped directly at Cassim's house, where Ali Baba then lived. The +thief, before he pulled off the band, marked the door with a piece of +chalk, which he had ready in his hand, and then asked him if he knew +whose house that was; to which Baba Mustapha replied that as he did +not live in that neighborhood, he could not tell.</p> + +<p>The robber, finding that he could discover no more from Baba Mustapha, +thanked him for the trouble he had taken, and left him to go back to +his stall, while he returned to the forest, persuaded that he should +be very well received.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> + +<p>A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha had parted, Morgiana went +out of Ali Baba's house upon some errand, and upon her return, seeing +the mark the robber had made, stopped to observe it.</p> + +<p>"What can be the meaning of this mark?" said she to herself. "Somebody +intends my master no good. However, with whatever intention it was +done, it is advisable to guard against the worst."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two or three +doors on each side in the same manner, without saying a word to her +master or mistress.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the robber rejoined his troop in the forest, and +recounted to them his success, expatiating upon his good fortune in +meeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of what he +wanted to know. All the robbers listened to him with the utmost +satisfaction. Then the captain, after commending his diligence, +addressing himself to them all, said, "Comrades, we have no time to +lose. Let us set off well armed, without its appearing who we are; but +that we may not excite any suspicion, let only one or two go into the +town together, and join at our rendezvous, which shall be the great +square. In the meantime, our comrade who brought us the good news and +I will go and find out the house, that we may consult what had best be +done."</p> + +<p>This speech and plan was approved of by all, and they were soon ready. +They filed off in parties of two each, after some interval of time, +and got into the town without being in the least suspected. The +captain, and he who had visited the town in the morning as spy, came +in the last. He led the captain into the street where he had marked +Ali Baba's residence; and when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> they came to the first of the houses +which Morgiana had marked, he pointed it out. But the captain observed +that the next door was chalked in the same manner, and in the same +place; and showing it to his guide, asked him which house it was, +that, or the first. The guide was so confounded, that he knew not what +answer to make; but he was still more puzzled when he and the captain +saw five or six houses similarly marked. He assured the captain, with +an oath, that he had marked but one, and could not tell who had +chalked the rest, so that he could not distinguish the house which the +cobbler had stopped at.</p> + +<p>The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive, went +directly to their place of rendezvous, and told his troop that they +had lost their labor, and must return to their cave. He himself set +them the example, and they all returned as they had come.</p> + +<p>When the troop was all got together, the captain told them the reason +of their returning; and presently the conductor was declared by all +worthy of death. He condemned himself, acknowledging that he ought to +have taken better precaution, and prepared to receive the stroke from +him who was appointed to cut off his head.</p> + +<p>But as the safety of the troop required the discovery of the second +intruder into the cave, another of the gang, who promised himself that +he should succeed better, presented himself, and his offer being +accepted he went and corrupted Baba Mustapha as the other had done; +and being shown the house, marked it in a place more remote from +sight, with red chalk.</p> + +<p>Not long after, Morgiana, whose eyes nothing could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> escape, went out, +and seeing the red chalk, and arguing with herself as she had done +before, marked the other neighbors' houses in the same place and +manner.</p> + +<p>The robber, on his return to his company, valued himself much on the +precaution he had taken, which he looked upon as an infallible way of +distinguishing Ali Baba's house from the others; and the captain and +all of them thought it must succeed. They conveyed themselves into the +town with the same precaution as before; but when the robber and his +captain came to the street, they found the same difficulty; at which +the captain was enraged, and the robber in as great confusion as his +predecessor.</p> + +<p>Thus the captain and his troop were forced to retire a second time, +and much more dissatisfied; while the robber who had been the author +of the mistake underwent the same punishment, which he willingly +submitted to.</p> + +<p>The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was afraid of +diminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to get information of +the residence of their plunderer. He found by their example that their +heads were not so good as their hands on such occasions; and therefore +resolved to take upon himself the important commission.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he went and addressed himself to Baba Mustapha, who did +him the same service he had done to the other robbers. He did not set +any particular mark on the house, but examined and observed it so +carefully, by passing often by it, that it was impossible for him to +mistake it.</p> + +<p>The captain, well satisfied with his attempt, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> informed of what he +wanted to know, returned to the forest: and when he came into the +cave, where the troop waited for him, said, "Now, comrades, nothing +can prevent our full revenge, as I am certain of the house; and on my +way hither I have thought how to put it into execution, but if any one +can form a better expedient, let him communicate it."</p> + +<p>He then told them his contrivance; and as they approved of it, ordered +them to go into the villages about, and buy nineteen mules, with +thirty-eight large leather jars, one full of oil, and the others +empty.</p> + +<p>In two or three days' time the robbers had purchased the mules and +jars, and as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow for his +purpose, the captain caused them to be widened, and after having put +one of his men into each, with the weapons which he thought fit, +leaving open the seam which had been undone to leave them room to +breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with oil from the full +vessel.</p> + +<p>Things being thus prepared, when the nineteen mules were loaded with +thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, the captain, as +their driver, set out with them, and reached the town by the dusk of +the evening, as he had intended. He led them through the streets, till +he came to Ali Baba's, at whose door he designed to have knocked; but +was prevented by his sitting there after supper to take a little fresh +air. He stopped his mules, addressed himself to him, and said, "I have +brought some oil a great way, to sell at tomorrow's market; and it is +now so late that I do not know where to lodge. If I should not be +troublesome to you, do me the favor to let me pass the night with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +you, and I shall be very much obliged by your hospitality."</p> + +<p>Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest, and +had heard him speak, it was impossible to know him in the disguise of +an oil merchant. He told him he should be welcome, and immediately +opened his gates for the mules to go into the yard. At the same time +he called to a slave, and ordered him, when the mules were unloaded, +to put them into the stable, and to feed them; and then went to +Morgiana, to bid her get a good supper for his guest.</p> + +<p>After they had finished supper, Ali Baba, charging Morgiana afresh to +take care of his guest, said to her, "To-morrow morning I design to go +to the bath before day; take care my bathing linen be ready, give them +to Abdalla (which was the slave's name), and make me some good broth +against I return." After this he went to bed.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the captain of the robbers went into the yard, and +took off the lid of each jar, and gave his people orders what to do. +Beginning at the first jar, and so on to the last, he said to each +man: "As soon as I throw some stones out of the chamber window where I +lie, do not fail to come out, and I will immediately join you."</p> + +<p>After this he returned into the house, when Morgiana, taking up a +light, conducted him to his chamber, where she left him; and he, to +avoid any suspicion, put the light out soon after, and laid himself +down in his clothes, that he might be the more ready to rise.</p> + +<p>Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba's orders, got his bathing linen ready, +and ordered Abdalla to set on the pot for the broth; but while she was +preparing it the lamp went out, and there was no more oil in the +house,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> nor any candles. What to do she did not know, for the broth +must be made. Abdalla, seeing her very uneasy, said, "do not fret and +tease yourself, but go into the yard, and take some oil out of one of +the jars."</p> + +<p>Morgiana thanked Abdalla for his advice, took the oil pot, and went +into the yard; when, as she came nigh the first jar, the robber within +said softly, "Is it time?"</p> + +<p>Though naturally much surprised at finding a man in the jar instead of +the oil she wanted, she immediately felt the importance of keeping +silence, as Ali Baba, his family, and herself were in great danger; +and collecting herself, without showing the least emotion, she +answered, "Not yet, but presently." She went quietly in this manner to +all the jars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil.</p> + +<p>By this means Morgiana found that her master Ali Baba had admitted +thirty-eight robbers into his house, and that this pretended oil +merchant was their captain. She made what haste she could to fill her +oil pot, and returned into the kitchen, where, as soon as she had +lighted her lamp, she took a great kettle, went again to the oil jar, +filled the kettle, set it on a large wood fire, and as soon as it +boiled, went and poured enough into every jar to stifle and destroy +the robber within.</p> + +<p>When this action, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was executed +without any noise, as she had projected, she returned into the kitchen +with the empty kettle; and having put out the great fire she had made +to boil the oil, and leaving just enough to make the broth, put out +the lamp also, and remained silent, resolving not to go to rest till, +through a window of the kitchen, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> opened into the yard, she had +seen what might follow.</p> + +<p>She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up, +opened the window, and, finding no light and hearing no noise or any +one stirring in the house, gave the appointed signal, by throwing +little stones, several of which hit the jars, as he doubted not by the +sound they gave. He then listened, but not hearing or perceiving +anything whereby he could judge that his companions stirred, he began +to grow very uneasy, threw stones again a second and also a third +time, and could not comprehend the reason that none of them should +answer his signal. Much alarmed, he went softly down into the yard, +and going to the first jar, while asking the robber, whom he thought +alive, if he was in readiness, smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent +forth a steam out of the jar. Hence he knew that his plot to murder +Ali Baba and plunder his house was discovered. Examining all the jars, +one after another, he found that all his gang were dead; and, enraged +to despair at having failed in his design, he forced the lock of a +door that led from the yard to the garden, and climbing over the walls +made his escape.</p> + +<p>When Morgiana saw him depart, she went to bed, satisfied and pleased +to have succeeded so well in saving her master and family.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba rose before day, and, followed by his slave, went to the +baths, entirely ignorant of the important event which had happened at +home.</p> + +<p>When he returned from the baths he was very much surprised to see the +oil jars, and to learn that the merchant was not gone with the mules. +He asked Morgiana, who opened the door, the reason of it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My good master," answered she, "God preserve you and all your family. +You will be better informed of what you wish to know when you have +seen what I have to show you, if you will follow me."</p> + +<p>As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali Baba followed her, when she +requested him to look into the first jar, and see if there was any +oil. Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back in alarm, and +cried out.</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid," said Morgiana; "the man you see there can neither +do you nor anybody else any harm. He is dead."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "what is it you show me? Explain +yourself."</p> + +<p>"I will," replied Morgiana. "Moderate your astonishment, and do not +excite the curiosity of your neighbors; for it is of great importance +to keep this affair secret. Look into all the other jars."</p> + +<p>Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after another; and when he +came to that which had the oil in it, found it prodigiously sunk, and +stood for some time motionless, sometimes looking at the jars and +sometimes at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great was his +surprise.</p> + +<p>At last, when he had recovered himself, he said, "And what is become +of the merchant?"</p> + +<p>"Merchant!" answered she; "he is as much one as I am. I will tell you +who he is, and what is become of him; but you had better hear the +story in your own chamber; for it is time for your health that you had +your broth after your bathing."</p> + +<p>Morgiana then told him all she had done, from the first observing the +mark upon the house, to the destruction of the robbers, and the flight +of their captain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> + +<p>On hearing of these brave deeds from the lips of Morgiana, Ali Baba +said to her—"God, by your means, has delivered me from the snares of +these robbers laid for my destruction. I owe, therefore, my life to +you; and, for the first token of my acknowledgment, I give you your +liberty from this moment, till I can complete your recompense as I +intend."</p> + +<p>Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the farther end by a +great number of large trees. Near these he and the slave Abdalla dug a +trench, long and wide enough to hold the bodies of the robbers; and as +the earth was light, they were not long in doing it. When this was +done, Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as he had no occasion for +the mules, he sent them at different times to be sold in the market by +his slave.</p> + +<p>While Ali Baba was taking these measures the captain of the forty +robbers returned to the forest with inconceivable mortification. He +did not stay long; the loneliness of the gloomy cavern became +frightful to him. He determined, however, to avenge the death of his +companions, and to accomplish the death of Ali Baba. For this purpose +he returned to the town, and took a lodging in a khan, disguising +himself as a merchant in silks. Under this assumed character he +gradually conveyed a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen to +his lodging from the cavern, but with all the necessary precautions to +conceal the place whence he brought them. In order to dispose of the +merchandise, when he had thus amassed them together, he took a +warehouse, which happened to be opposite to Cassim's, which Ali Baba's +son had occupied since the death of his uncle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> + +<p>He took the name of Cogia Houssain, and, as a newcomer, was, according +to custom, extremely civil and complaisant to all the merchants his +neighbors. Ali Baba's son was, from his vicinity, one of the first to +converse with Cogia Houssain, who strove to cultivate his friendship +more particularly. Two or three days after he was settled, Ali Baba +came to see his son, and the captain of the robbers recognized him at +once, and soon learned from his son who he was. After this he +increased his assiduities, caressed him in the most engaging manner, +made him some small presents, and often asked him to dine and sup with +him, when he treated him very handsomely.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba's son did not choose to lie under such obligation to Cogia +Houssain; but was so much straitened for want of room in his house +that he could not entertain him. He therefore acquainted his father, +Ali Baba, with his wish to invite him in return.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba with great pleasure took the treat upon himself. "Son," said +he, "to-morrow being Friday, which is a day that the shops of such +great merchants as Cogia Houssain and yourself are shut, get him to +accompany you, and as you pass by my door, call in. I will go and +order Morgiana to provide a supper."</p> + +<p>The next day Ali Baba's son and Cogia Houssain met by appointment, +took their walk, and as they returned, Ali Baba's son led Cogia +Houssain through the street where his father lived, and when they came +to the house, stopped and knocked at the door.</p> + +<p>"This, sir," said he, "is my father's house, who, from the account I +have given him of your friendship, charged me to procure him the honor +of your acquaintance; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> I desire you to add this pleasure to those +for which I am already indebted to you."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_7" id="pic_7"></a> +<img src="images/image_015.jpg" width="500" height="724" alt="She drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance." title="She drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">She drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance. <a href="#anch_6">Page 242</a></span></div> + +<p>Though it was the sole aim of Cogia Houssain to introduce himself into +Ali Baba's house, that he might kill him without hazarding his own +life or making any noise, yet he excused himself, and offered to take +his leave; but a slave having opened the door, Ali Baba's son took him +obligingly by the hand, and, in a manner, forced him in.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba received Cogia Houssain with a smiling countenance, and in +the most obliging manner he could wish. He thanked him for all the +favors he had done his son; adding, withal, the obligation was the +greater as he was a young man, not much acquainted with the world, and +that he might contribute to his information.</p> + +<p>Cogia Houssain returned the compliment by assuring Ali Baba that +though his son might not have acquired the experience of older men, he +had good sense equal to the experience of many others. After a little +more conversation on different subjects, he offered again to take his +leave, when Ali Baba, stopping him, said, "Where are you going, sir, +in so much haste? I beg you will do me the honor to sup with me, +though my entertainment may not be worthy your acceptance. Such as it +is, I heartily offer it."</p> + +<p>"Sir," replied Cogia Houssain, "I am thoroughly persuaded of your good +will; but the truth is, I can eat no victuals that have any salt in +them; therefore judge how I should feel at your table."</p> + +<p>"If that is the only reason," said Ali Baba, "it ought not to deprive +me of the honor of your company; for, in the first place, there is no +salt ever put into my <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>bread, and as to the meat we shall have +to-night, I promise you there shall be none in that. Therefore you +must do me the favor to stay. I will return immediately."</p> + + + +<p>Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to put no salt to +the meat that was to be dressed that night; and to make quickly two or +three ragouts besides what he had ordered, but be sure to put no salt +in them.</p> + +<p>Morgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could not help +being surprised at his strange order.</p> + +<p>"Who is this strange man," said she, "who eats no salt with his meat? +Your supper will be spoiled, if I keep it back so long."</p> + +<p>"Do not be angry, Morgiana," replied Ali Baba. "He is an honest man, +therefore do as I bid you."</p> + +<p>Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a curiosity +to see this man who ate no salt. To this end, when she had finished +what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdalla to carry up the +dishes; and looking at Cogia Houssain, she knew him at first sight, +notwithstanding his disguise, to be the captain of the robbers, and +examining him very carefully, perceived that he had a dagger under his +garment.</p> + +<p>"I am not in the least amazed," said she to herself, "that this wicked +man, who is my master's greatest enemy, would eat no salt with him, +since he intends to assassinate him; but I will prevent him."</p> + +<p>Morgiana, while they were at supper, determined in her own mind to +execute one of the boldest acts ever meditated. When Abdalla came for +the dessert of fruit, and had put it with the wine and glasses before +Ali Baba, Morgiana retired, dressed herself neatly with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> a suitable +headdress like a dancer, girded her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, +to which there hung a poniard with a hilt and guard of the same metal, +and put a handsome mask on her face. When she had thus disguised +herself, she said to Abdalla, "Take your tabor, and let us go and +divert our master and his son's friend, as we do sometimes when he is +alone."</p> + +<p>Abdalla took his tabor, and played all the way into the hall before +Morgiana, who, when she came to the door, made a low obeisance by way +of asking leave to exhibit her skill, while Abdalla left off playing.</p> + +<p>"Come in, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Cogia Houssain see what +you can do, that he may tell us what he thinks of your performance."</p> + +<p>Cogia Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after supper, began +to fear he should not be able to take advantage of the opportunity he +thought he had found; but hoped, if he now missed his aim, to secure +it another time, by keeping up a friendly correspondence with the +father and son; therefore, though he could have wished Ali Baba would +have declined the dance, he pretended to be obliged to him for it, and +had the complaisance to express his satisfaction at what he saw, which +pleased his host.</p> + +<p>As soon as Abdalla saw that Ali Baba and Cogia Houssain had done +talking, he began to play on the tabor, and accompanied it with an +air, to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, danced in such +a manner as would have created admiration in any company.</p> + +<p>After she had danced several dances with much grace, <a name="anch_6" id="anch_6"></a>she drew the +poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance in which she outdid +herself by the many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> different figures, light movements, and the +surprising leaps and wonderful exertions with which she accompanied +it. Sometimes she presented the poniard to one breast, sometimes to +another, and oftentimes seemed to strike her own. At last, she +snatched the tabor from Abdalla with her left hand, and holding the +dagger in her right presented the other side of the tabor, after the +manner of those who get a livelihood by dancing, and solicit the +liberality of the spectators.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as did also his son; and +Cogia Houssain, seeing that she was coming to him, had pulled his +purse out of his bosom to make her a present; but while he was putting +his hand into it, Morgiana, with a courage and resolution worthy of +herself, plunged the poniard into his heart.</p> + +<p>Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud.</p> + +<p>"Unhappy woman!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have you done, to ruin me +and my family?"</p> + +<p>"It was to preserve, not to ruin you," answered Morgiana; "for see +here," continued she, opening the pretended Cogia Houssain's garment, +and showing the dagger, "what an enemy you had entertained! Look well +at him, and you will find him to be both the fictitious oil merchant, +and the captain of the gang of forty robbers. Remember, too, that he +would eat no salt with you; and what would you have more to persuade +you of his wicked design? Before I saw him, I suspected him as soon as +you told me you had such a guest. I knew him, and you now find that my +suspicion was not groundless."</p> + +<p>Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to Morgiana +for saving his life a second time,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> embraced her: "Morgiana," said he, +"I gave you your liberty, and then promised you that my gratitude +should not stop there, but that I would soon give you higher proofs of +its sincerity, which I now do by making you my daughter-in-law."</p> + +<p>Then addressing himself to his son, he said, "I believe you, son, to +be so dutiful a child, that you will not refuse Morgiana for your +wife. You see that Cogia Houssain sought your friendship with a +treacherous design to take away my life; and if he had succeeded, +there is no doubt but he would have sacrificed you also to his +revenge. Consider, that by marrying Morgiana you marry the preserver +of my family and your own."</p> + +<p>The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to the +marriage; not only because he would not disobey his father, but also +because it was agreeable to his inclination. After this they thought +of burying the captain of the robbers with his comrades, and did it so +privately that nobody discovered their bones till many years after, +when no one had any concern in the publication of this remarkable +history. A few days afterward, Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of his +son and Morgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the +usual dancing and spectacles; and had the satisfaction to see that his +friends and neighbors, whom he invited, had no knowledge of the true +motives of the marriage; but that those who were not unacquainted with +Morgiana's good qualities commended his generosity and goodness of +heart. Ali Baba did not visit the robber's cave for a whole year, as +he supposed the other two, whom he could get no account of, might be +alive.</p> + +<p>At the year's end, when he found they had not made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> any attempt to +disturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey. He mounted +his horse, and when he came to the cave he alighted, tied his horse to +a tree, and approaching the entrance, pronounced the words, "Open, +Sesame!" and the door opened. He entered the cavern, and by the +condition he found things in, judged that nobody had been there since +the captain had fetched the goods for his shop. From this time he +believed he was the only person in the world who had the secret of +opening the cave, and that all the treasure was at his sole disposal. +He put as much gold into his saddle-bag as his horse would carry, and +returned to town. Some years later he carried his son to the cave, and +taught him the secret, which he handed down to his posterity, who, +using their good fortune with moderation, lived in great honor and +splendor.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image_014.jpg" width="600" height="453" alt="Illustration" /> +</div> + + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> "Sesame" is a small grain.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_STORY_OF_SINDBAD_THE_SAILOR50" id="THE_STORY_OF_SINDBAD_THE_SAILOR50"></a>THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a></h2> + + +<p>In the reign of the same caliph, Haroun al Raschid, of whom we have +already heard, there lived at Bagdad a poor porter, called Hindbad. +One day, when the weather was excessively hot, he was employed to +carry a heavy burden from one end of the town to the other. Being much +fatigued, he took off his load, and sat upon it, near a large mansion.</p> + +<p>He was much pleased that he stopped at this place, for the agreeable +smell of wood of aloes and of pastils, that came from the house, +mixing with the scent of the rose water, completely perfumed and +embalmed the air. Besides, he heard from within a concert of +instrumental music, accompanied with the harmonious notes of +nightingales and other birds. This charming melody, and the smell of +several sorts of savory dishes, made the porter conclude there was a +feast, with great rejoicings within. His business seldom leading him +that way, he knew not to whom the mansion belonged; but he went to +some of the servants, whom he saw standing at the gate in magnificent +apparel, and asked the name of the proprietor.</p> + +<p>"How," replied one of them, "do you live in Bagdad, and know not that +this is the house of Sindbad the sailor, that famous voyager, who has +sailed round the world?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> +<p>The porter lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, loud enough to be +heard, "Almighty Creator of all things, consider the difference +between Sindbad and me! I am every day exposed to fatigues and +calamities, and can scarcely get coarse barley bread for myself and my +family, while happy Sindbad profusely expends immense riches, and +leads a life of continual pleasure. What has he done to obtain from +Thee a lot so agreeable? And what have I done to deserve one so +wretched?"</p> + +<p>While the porter was thus indulging his melancholy, a servant came out +of the house, and taking him by the arm, bade him follow him, for +Sindbad, his master, wanted to speak to him.</p> + +<p>The servant brought him into a great hall, where a number of people +sat round a table covered with all sorts of savory dishes. At the +upper end sat a comely, venerable gentleman, with a long white beard, +and behind him stood a number of officers and domestics, all ready to +attend his pleasure. This person was Sindbad. Hindbad, whose fear was +increased at the sight of so many people, and of a banquet so +sumptuous, saluted the company, trembling. Sindbad bade him draw near, +and seating him at his right hand, served him himself, and gave him +excellent wine, of which there was abundance upon the sideboard.</p> + +<p>Now Sindbad had himself heard the porter complain through the window, +and this it was that induced him to have him brought in. When the +repast was over, Sindbad addressed his conversation to Hindbad, and +inquired his name and employment, and said, "I wish to hear from your +own mouth what it was you lately said in the street."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this request, Hindbad hung down his head in confusion, and replied, +"My lord, I confess that my fatigue put me out of humor and occasioned +me to utter some indiscreet words, which I beg you to pardon."</p> + +<p>"Do not think I am so unjust," resumed Sindbad, "as to resent such a +complaint. But I must rectify your error concerning myself. You think, +no doubt, that I have acquired without labor and trouble the ease and +indulgence which I now enjoy. But do not mistake; I did not attain to +this happy condition without enduring for several years more trouble +of body and mind than can well be imagined. Yes, gentlemen," he added, +speaking to the whole company, "I assure you that my sufferings have +been of a nature so extraordinary as would deprive the greatest miser +of his love of riches; and as an opportunity now offers, I will, with +your leave, relate the dangers I have encountered, which I think will +not be uninteresting to you."</p> + + +<h3>THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR</h3> +<p>My father was a wealthy merchant of much repute. He bequeathed me a +large estate, which I wasted in riotous living. I quickly perceived my +error, and that I was misspending my time, which is of all things the +most valuable. I remembered the saying of the great Solomon, which I +had frequently heard from my father, "A good name is better than +precious ointment," and again, "Wisdom is good with an inheritance." +Struck with these reflections, I resolved to walk in my father's ways, +and I entered into a contract with some merchants, and embarked with +them on board a ship we had jointly fitted out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> + +<p>We set sail, and steered our course toward the Indies, through the +Persian Gulf, which is formed by the coasts of Arabia Felix on the +right, and by those of Persia on the left. At first I was troubled +with seasickness, but speedily recovered my health, and was not +afterward subject to that complaint.</p> + +<p>In our voyage we touched at several islands, where we sold or +exchanged our goods. One day, while under sail, we were becalmed near +a small island, but little elevated above the level of the water, and +resembling a green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be furled, +and permitted such persons as were so inclined to land; of this number +I was one.</p> + +<p>But while we were enjoying ourselves in eating and drinking, and +recovering ourselves from the fatigue of the sea, the island on a +sudden trembled, and shook us terribly.</p> + +<p>The trembling of the island was perceived on board the ship, and we +were called upon to reëmbark speedily, or we should all be lost; for +what we took for an island proved to be the back<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> of a sea monster. +The nimblest got into the sloop, others betook themselves to swimming; +but as for myself, I was still upon the island when it disappeared +into the sea, and I had only time to catch hold of a piece of wood +that we had brought out of the ship to make a fire. Meanwhile the +captain, having received those on board who were in the sloop, and +taken up some of those that swam, resolved to improve the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span>favorable +gale that had just risen, and hoisting his sails pursued his voyage, +so that it was impossible for me to recover the ship.</p> + +<p>Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves all the rest of the day +and the following night. By this time I found my strength gone, and +despaired of saving my life, when happily a wave threw me against an +island. The bank was high and rugged, so that I could scarcely have +got up had it not been for some roots of trees which I found within +reach. When the sun arose, though I was very feeble, both from hard +labor and want of food, I crept along to find some herbs fit to eat, +and had the good luck not only to procure some, but likewise to +discover a spring of excellent water, which contributed much to +recover me. After this I advanced farther into the island, and at last +reached a fine plain, where I perceived some horses feeding. I went +toward them, when I heard the voice of a man, who immediately +appeared, and asked me who I was. I related to him my adventure, after +which, taking me by the hand, he led me into a cave, where there were +several other people, no less amazed to see me than I was to see them.</p> + +<p>I partook of some provisions which they offered me. I then asked them +what they did in such a desert place; to which they answered that they +were grooms belonging to the maharaja, sovereign of the island, and +that every year they brought thither the king's horses for pasturage. +They added that they were to return home on the morrow, and had I been +one day later I must have perished, because the inhabited part of the +island was a great distance off, and it would have been impossible for +me to have got thither without a guide.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span></p> + +<p>Next morning they returned to the capital of the island, took me with +them, and presented me to the maharaja. He asked me who I was, and by +what adventure I had come into his dominions. After I had satisfied +him, he told me he was much concerned for my misfortune, and at the +same time ordered that I should want for nothing; which commands his +officers were so generous and careful as to see exactly fulfilled.</p> + +<p>Being a merchant, I frequented men of my own profession, and +particularly inquired for those who were strangers, that perchance I +might hear news from Bagdad, or find an opportunity to return. For the +maharaja's capital is situated on the seacoast, and has a fine harbor, +where ships arrive daily from the different quarters of the world. I +frequented also the society of the learned Indians, and took delight +to hear them converse; but withal, I took care to make my court +regularly to the maharaja, and conversed with the governors and petty +kings, his tributaries, that were about him. They put a thousand +questions respecting my country; and I, being willing to inform myself +as to their laws and customs, asked them concerning everything which I +thought worth knowing.</p> + +<p>There belongs to this king an island named Cassel. They assured me +that every night a noise of drums was heard there, whence the mariners +fancied that it was the residence of Gegial. I determined to visit +this wonderful place, and in my way thither saw fishes of one hundred +and two hundred cubits long, that occasion more fear than hurt; for +they are so timorous that they will fly upon the rattling of two +sticks or boards. I saw likewise other fish, about a cubit in length, +that had heads like owls.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> + +<p>As I was one day at the port after my return, the ship arrived in +which I had embarked at Bussorah. I at once knew the captain, and I +went and asked him for my bales. "I am Sindbad," said I, "and those +bales marked with his name are mine."</p> + +<p>When the captain heard me speak thus, "Heavens!" he exclaimed, "whom +can we trust in these times! I saw Sindbad perish with my own eyes, as +did also the passengers on board, and yet you tell me you are that +Sindbad. What impudence is this! And what a false tale to tell, in +order to possess yourself of what does not belong to you!"</p> + +<p>"Have patience," replied I. "Do me the favor to hear what I have to +say."</p> + +<p>The captain was at length persuaded that I was no cheat; for there +came people from his ship who knew me, paid me great compliments, and +expressed much joy at seeing me alive. At last he recollected me +himself, and embracing me, "Heaven be praised," said he, "for your +happy escape! I cannot express the joy it affords me. There are your +goods; take and do with them as you please."</p> + +<p>I took out what was most valuable in my bales, and presented them to +the maharaja, who, knowing my misfortune, asked me how I came by such +rarities. I acquainted him with the circumstance of their recovery. He +was pleased at my good luck, accepted my present, and in return gave +me one much more considerable. Upon this I took leave of him, and went +aboard the same ship after I had exchanged my goods for the +commodities of that country. I carried with me wood of aloes, sandals, +camphor, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> We passed by several +islands, and at last arrived at Bussorah, from whence I came to this +city, with the value of one hundred thousand sequins.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Sindbad stopped here, and ordered the musicians to proceed with their +concert, which the story had interrupted. When it was evening, Sindbad +sent for a purse of one hundred sequins, and giving it to the porter, +said, "Take this, Hindbad, return to your home, and come back +to-morrow to hear more of my adventures." The porter went away, +astonished at the honor done him, and the present made him. The +account of this adventure proved very agreeable to his wife and +children, who did not fail to return thanks for what Providence had +sent them by the hand of Sindbad.</p> + +<p>Hindbad put on his best robe next day, and returned to the bountiful +traveler, who received him with a pleasant air, and welcomed him +heartily. When all the guests had arrived, dinner was served, and +continued a long time. When it was ended, Sindbad, addressing himself +to the company, said, "Gentlemen, be pleased to listen to the +adventures of my second voyage. They deserve your attention even more +than those of the first."</p> + +<p>Upon which every one held his peace, and Sindbad proceeded.</p> + + +<h3>THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR</h3> +<p>I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days at +Bagdad, but it was not long ere I grew weary of an indolent life, and +I put to sea a second time, with merchants of known probity. We +embarked on board a good ship, and, after recommending ourselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> to +God, set sail. We traded from island to island, and exchanged +commodities with great profit. One day we landed on an island covered +with several sorts of fruit trees, but we could see neither man nor +animal. We walked in the meadows, along the streams that watered them. +While some diverted themselves with gathering flowers, and others +fruits, I took my wine and provisions, and sat down near a stream +betwixt two high trees, which formed a thick shade. I made a good +meal, and afterward fell sleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but +when I awoke the ship was gone.</p> + +<p>In this sad condition I was ready to die with grief. I cried out in +agony, beat my head and breast, and threw myself upon the ground, +where I lay some time in despair. I upbraided myself a hundred times +for not being content with the produce of my first voyage, that might +have sufficed me all my life. But all this was in vain, and my +repentance came too late. At last I resigned myself to the will of +God. Not knowing what to do, I climbed to the top of a lofty tree, +from whence I looked about on all sides, to see if I could discover +anything that could give me hope. When I gazed toward the sea I could +see nothing but sky and water; but looking over the land, I beheld +something white; and coming down, I took what provision I had left and +went toward it, the distance being so great that I could not +distinguish what it was.</p> + +<p>As I approached, I thought it to be a white dome, of a prodigious +height and extent; and when I came up to it, I touched it, and found +it to be very smooth. I went round to see if it was open on any side, +but saw it was not, and that there was no climbing up to the top, as +it was so smooth. It was at least fifty paces round.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + +<p>By this time the sun was about to set, and all of a sudden the sky +became as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was +much astonished at this sudden darkness, but much more when I found it +was occasioned by a bird of a monstrous size, that came flying toward +me. I remembered that I had often heard mariners speak of a miraculous +bird called the roc,<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> and conceived that the great dome which I so +much admired must be its egg. In short, the bird alighted, and sat +over the egg. As I perceived her coming, I crept close to the egg, so +that I had before me one of the legs of the bird, which was as big as +the trunk of a tree. I tied myself strongly to it with my turban, in +hopes that the roc next morning would carry me with her out of this +desert island. After having passed the night in this condition, the +bird flew away as soon as it was daylight, and carried me so high that +I could not discern the earth; she afterward descended with so much +rapidity that I lost my senses. But when I found myself on the ground, +I speedily untied the knot, and had scarcely done so, when the roc, +having taken up a serpent of a monstrous length in her bill, flew +away.</p> + +<p>The spot where it left me was encompassed on all sides by mountains, +that seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep that there was no +possibility of getting out of the valley. This was a new perplexity; +so that when I compared this place with the desert island from which +the roc had brought me, I found that I had gained nothing by the +change.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> +<p>As I walked through this valley, I perceived it was strewn with +diamonds, some of which were of surprising bigness. I took pleasure in +looking upon them; but shortly I saw at a distance such objects as +greatly diminished my satisfaction, and which I could not view without +terror, namely, a great number of serpents, so monstrous that the +least of them was capable of swallowing an elephant. They retired in +the daytime to their dens, where they hid themselves from the roc, +their enemy, and came out only in the night.</p> + +<p>I spent the day in walking about in the valley, resting myself at +times in such places as I thought most convenient. When night came on +I went into a cave, where I thought I might repose in safety. I +secured the entrance, which was low and narrow, with a great stone, to +preserve me from the serpents; but not so far as to exclude the light. +I supped on part of my provisions, but the serpents, which began +hissing round me, put me into such extreme fear that I did not sleep. +When day appeared the serpents retired, and I came out of the cave, +trembling. I can justly say that I walked upon diamonds without +feeling any inclination to touch them. At last I sat down, and +notwithstanding my apprehensions, not having closed my eyes during the +night, fell asleep, after having eaten a little more of my provisions. +But I had scarcely shut my eyes when something that fell by me with a +great noise awakened me. This was a large piece of raw meat; and at +the same time I saw several others fall down from the rocks in +different places.</p> + +<p>I had always regarded as fabulous what I had heard sailors and others +relate of the valley of diamonds, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> of the stratagems employed by +merchants to obtain jewels from thence; but now I found that they had +stated nothing but the truth. For the fact is, that the merchants come +to the neighborhood of this valley, when the eagles have young ones, +and throwing great joints of meat into the valley, the diamonds, upon +whose points they fall, stick to them; the eagles, which are stronger +in this country than anywhere else, pounce with great force upon those +pieces of meat, and carry them to their nests on the precipices of the +rocks to feed their young: the merchants at this time run to their +nests, disturb and drive off the eagles by their shouts, and take away +the diamonds that stick to the meat.</p> + +<p>I perceived in this device the means of my deliverance.</p> + +<p>Having collected together the largest diamonds I could find, and put +them into the leather bag in which I used to carry my provisions, I +took the largest of the pieces of meat, tied it close round me with +the cloth of my turban, and then laid myself upon the ground, with my +face downward, the bag of diamonds being made fast to my girdle.</p> + +<p>I had scarcely placed myself in this posture when one of the eagles, +having taken me up with the piece of meat to which I was fastened, +carried me to his nest on the top of the mountain. The merchants +immediately began their shouting to frighten the eagles; and when they +had obliged them to quit their prey, one of them came to the nest +where I was. He was much alarmed when he saw me; but recovering +himself, instead of inquiring how I came thither, began to quarrel +with me, and asked why I stole his goods.</p> + +<p>"You will treat me," replied I, "with more civility<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> when you know me +better. Do not be uneasy; I have diamonds enough for you and myself, +more than all the other merchants together. Whatever they have they +owe to chance; but I selected for myself, in the bottom of the valley, +those which you see in this bag."</p> + +<p>I had scarcely done speaking, when the other merchants came crowding +about us, much astonished to see me; but they were much more surprised +when I told them my story.</p> + +<p>They conducted me to their encampment; and there, having opened my +bag, they were surprised at the largeness of my diamonds, and +confessed that they had never seen any of such size and perfection. I +prayed the merchant who owned the nest to which I had been carried +(for every merchant had his own) to take as many for his share as he +pleased. He contented himself with one, and that, too, the least of +them; and when I pressed him to take more, without fear of doing me +any injury, "No," said he, "I am very well satisfied with this, which +is valuable enough to save me the trouble of making any more voyages, +and will raise as great a fortune as I desire."</p> + +<p>I spent the night with the merchants, to whom I related my story a +second time, for the satisfaction of those who had not heard it. I +could not moderate my joy when I found myself delivered from the +danger I have mentioned. I thought myself in a dream, and could +scarcely believe myself out of danger.</p> + +<p>The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley for +several days; and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds that +had fallen to his lot, we left the place the next morning, and +traveled near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> high mountains, where there were serpents of a +prodigious length, which we had the good fortune to escape. We took +shipping at the first port we reached, and touched at the isle of +Roha, where the trees grow that yield camphor. This tree is so large, +and its branches so thick, that one hundred men may easily sit under +its shade. The juice, of which the camphor is made, exudes from a hole +bored in the upper part of the tree, and is received in a vessel, +where it thickens to a consistency, and becomes what we call camphor. +After the juice is thus drawn out, the tree withers and dies.</p> + +<p>In this island is also found the rhinoceros, an animal less than the +elephant but larger than the buffalo. It has a horn upon its nose, +about a cubit in length; this horn is solid, and cleft through the +middle. The rhinoceros fights with the elephant, runs his horn into +his belly,<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> and carries him off upon his head; but the blood and +the fat of the elephant running into his eyes and making him blind, he +falls to the ground; and then, strange to relate, the roc comes and +carries them both away in her claws, for food for her young ones.</p> + +<p>I pass over many other things peculiar to this island, lest I should +weary you. Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for merchandise. From +hence we went to other islands, and at last, having touched at several +trading towns of the continent, we landed at Bussorah, from whence I +proceeded to Bagdad. There I immediately gave large presents to the +poor, and lived honorably upon the vast riches I had brought, and +gained with so much fatigue.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> +<p>Thus Sindbad ended the relation of the second voyage, gave Hindbad +another hundred sequins, and invited him to come the next day to hear +the account of the third.</p> + + +<h3>THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR</h3> +<p>I soon again grew weary of living a life of idleness, and hardening +myself against the thought of any danger, I embarked with some +merchants on another long voyage. We touched at several ports, where +we traded. One day we were overtaken by a dreadful tempest, which +drove us from our course. The storm continued several days, and +brought us before the port of an island, which the captain was very +unwilling to enter; but we were obliged to cast anchor. When we had +furled our sails the captain told us that this and some other +neighboring islands were inhabited by hairy savages, who would +speedily attack us; and though they were but dwarfs we must make no +resistance, for they were more in number than the locusts; and if we +happened to kill one, they would all fall upon us and destroy us.</p> + +<p>We soon found that what the captain had told us was but too true. An +innumerable multitude of frightful savages, about two feet high, +covered all over with red hair, came swimming toward us, and +encompassed our ship. They chattered as they came near, but we +understood not their language. They climbed up the sides of the ship +with such agility as surprised us. They took down our sails, cut the +cable, and hauling to the shore, made us all get out, and afterward +carried the ship into another island, from whence they had come.</p> + +<p>As we advanced, we perceived at a distance a vast pile of building, +and made toward it. We found it to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> be a palace, elegantly built, and +very lofty, with a gate of ebony of two leaves, which we opened. We +saw before us a large apartment, with a porch, having on one side a +heap of human bones, and on the other a vast number of roasting spits. +We trembled at this spectacle, and were seized with deadly +apprehension, when suddenly the gate of the apartment opened with a +loud crash, and there came out the horrible figure of a black man, as +tall as a lofty palm tree. He had but one eye, and that in the middle +of his forehead, where it blazed bright as a burning coal. His +foreteeth were very long and sharp, and stood out of his mouth, which +was as deep as that of a horse. His upper lip hung down upon his +breast. His ears resembled those of an elephant, and covered his +shoulders; and his nails were as long and crooked as the talons of the +greatest birds. At the sight of so frightful a genie we became +insensible, and lay like dead men.</p> + +<p>At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch looking +at us. When he had considered us well, he advanced toward us, and +laying his hand upon me, took me up by the nape of my neck, and turned +me around, as a butcher would do a sheep's head. After having examined +me, and perceiving me to be so lean that I was nothing but skin and +bone, he let me go. He took up all the rest one by one, and viewed +them in the same manner. The captain being the fattest, he held him +with one hand, as I would do a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; +he then kindled a great fire, roasted, and ate him in his apartment +for his supper. Having finished his repast, he returned to his porch, +where he lay and fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> He slept +thus till morning. As for ourselves, it was not possible for us to +enjoy any rest, so that we passed the night in the most painful +apprehension that can be imagined. When day appeared the giant awoke, +got up, went out, and left us in the palace.</p> + +<p>The next night we determined to revenge ourselves on the brutish +giant, and did so in the following manner. After he had again finished +his inhuman supper on another of our seamen, he lay down on his back, +and fell asleep. As soon as we heard him snore according to his +custom, nine of the boldest among us, and myself, took each of us a +spit, and putting the points of them into the fire till they were +burning hot, we thrust them into his eye all at once, and blinded<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> +him. The pain made him break out into a frightful yell: he started up, +and stretched out his hands in order to sacrifice some of us to his +rage, but we ran to such places as he could not reach; and after +having sought for us in vain, he groped for the gate, and went out, +howling in agony.</p> + +<p>We immediately left the palace, and came to the shore, where with some +timber that lay about in great quantities, we made some rafts, each +large enough to carry three men. We waited until day to get upon them, +for we hoped if the giant did not appear by sunrise, and give over his +howling, which we still heard, that he would prove to be dead; and if +that happened to be the case, we resolved to stay on that island, and +not to risk our lives upon the rafts. But day had scarcely appeared +when we perceived our cruel enemy, with two others, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span>almost of the +same size, leading him; and a great number more coming before him at a +quick pace.</p> + +<p>We did not hesitate to take to our rafts, but put to sea with all the +speed we could. The giants, who perceived this, took up great stones, +and running to the shore they entered the water up to the middle, and +threw so exactly that they sank all the rafts but that I was upon; and +all my companions, except the two with me, were drowned. We rowed with +all our might, and got out of the reach of the giants. But when we got +out to sea we were exposed to the mercy of the waves and winds, and +spent that day and the following night under the most painful +uncertainty as to our fate; but next morning we had the good fortune +to be thrown upon an island, where we landed with much joy. We found +excellent fruit, which afforded us great relief, and recruited our +strength.</p> + +<p>At night we went to sleep on the seashore; but were awakened by the +noise of a serpent of surprising length and thickness, whose scales +made a rustling noise as he wound himself along. It swallowed up one +of my comrades, notwithstanding his loud cries and the efforts he made +to extricate himself from it. Dashing him several times against the +ground, it crushed him, and we could hear it gnaw and tear the poor +fellow's bones, though we had fled to a considerable distance. The +following day, to our great terror, we saw the serpent again, when I +exclaimed, "O Heaven, to what dangers are we exposed! We rejoiced +yesterday at having escaped from the cruelty of a giant and the rage +of the waves; now are we fallen into another danger equally dreadful."</p> + +<p>As we walked about, we saw a large tall tree, upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> which we designed +to pass the following night for our security; and having satisfied our +hunger with fruit, we mounted it accordingly. Shortly after, the +serpent came hissing to the foot of the tree, raised itself up against +the trunk of it, and meeting with my comrade, who sat lower than I, +swallowed him at once, and went off.</p> + +<p>I remained upon the tree till it was day, and then came down, more +like a dead man than one alive, expecting the same fate as had +befallen my two companions. This filled me with horror, and I advanced +some steps to throw myself into the sea; but I withstood this dictate +of despair, and submitted myself to the will of God, who disposes of +our lives at His pleasure.</p> + +<p>In the meantime I collected together a great quantity of small wood, +brambles, and dry thorns, and making them up into fagots, made a wide +circle with them round the tree, and also tied some of them to the +branches over my head. Having done this, when the evening came I shut +myself up within this circle, with the melancholy satisfaction that I +had neglected nothing which could preserve me from the cruel destiny +with which I was threatened. The serpent failed not to come at the +usual hour, and went round the tree, seeking for an opportunity to +devour me, but was prevented by the rampart I had made; so that he lay +till day, like a cat watching in vain for a mouse that has fortunately +reached a place of safety. When day appeared, he retired, but I dared +not leave my fort until the sun arose.</p> + +<p>God took compassion on my hopeless state; for just as I was going, in +a fit of desperation, to throw myself into the sea, I perceived a ship +in the distance. I called as loud as I could, and unfolding the linen +of my turban,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> displayed it, that they might observe me. This had the +desired effect. The crew perceived me, and the captain sent his boat +for me. As soon as I came on board, the merchants and seamen flocked +about me, to know how I came into that desert island; and after I had +related to them all that had befallen me, the oldest among them said +they had several times heard of the giants that dwelt on that island, +and that they were cannibals; and as to the serpents, they added that +there were abundant in the island; that they hid themselves by day, +and came abroad by night. After having testified their joy at my +escaping so many dangers, they brought me the best of their +provisions; and took me before the captain, who, seeing that I was in +rags, gave me one of his own suits. Looking steadfastly upon him, I +knew him to be the person who, on my second voyage, had left me in the +island where I fell asleep, and had sailed without me, or without +sending to seek for me.</p> + +<p>I was not surprised that he, believing me to be dead, did not +recognize me.</p> + +<p>"Captain," said I, "look at me, and you may know that I am Sindbad, +whom you left in that desert island."</p> + +<p>The captain, having considered me attentively, recognized me.</p> + +<p>"God be praised!" said he, embracing me; "I rejoice that fortune has +rectified my fault. There are your goods, which I always took care to +preserve."</p> + +<p>I took them from him, and made him my acknowledgments for his care of +them.</p> + +<p>We continued at sea for some time, touched at several islands, and at +last landed at that of Salabat,<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> where <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span>sandalwood is obtained, +which is much used in medicine.</p> + +<p>From the isle of Salabat we went to another, where I furnished myself +with cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. As we sailed from this island +we saw a tortoise twenty cubits in length and breadth. We observed +also an amphibious animal like a cow, which gave milk;<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> its skin is +so hard, that they usually make bucklers of it. I saw another, which +had the shape and color of a camel.<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a></p> + +<p>In short, after a long voyage I arrived at Bussorah, and from thence +returned to Bagdad with so much wealth that I knew not its extent. I +gave a great deal to the poor, and bought another considerable estate.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Thus Sindbad finished the history of his third voyage. He gave another +hundred sequins to Hindbad, and invited him to dinner again the next +day, to hear</p> + + +<h3>THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR</h3> +<p>After I had rested from the dangers of my third voyage, my passion for +trade and my love of novelty soon again prevailed. I therefore settled +my affairs, and provided a stock of goods fit for the traffic I +designed to engage in. I took the route to Persia, traveled over +several provinces, and then arrived at a port, where I embarked. On +putting out to sea, we were overtaken by such a sudden gust of wind as +obliged the captain to lower his yards, and take all other necessary +precautions to prevent the danger that threatened us. But <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span>all was in +vain; our endeavors had no effect. The sails were split in a thousand +pieces, and the ship was stranded, several of the merchants and seamen +were drowned, and the cargo was lost.</p> + +<p>I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and mariners, to +get upon some planks, and we were carried by the current to an island +which lay before us. There we found fruit and spring water, which +preserved our lives. We stayed all night near the place where we had +been cast ashore.</p> + +<p>Next morning, as soon as the sun was up, we explored the island, and +saw some houses, which we approached. As soon as we drew near we were +encompassed by a great number of negroes, who seized us, shared us +among them, and carried us to their respective habitations.</p> + +<p>I and five of my comrades were carried to one place; here they made us +sit down, and gave us a certain herb, which they made signs to us to +eat. My comrades, not taking notice that the blacks ate none of it +themselves, thought only of satisfying their hunger, and ate with +greediness. But I, suspecting some trick, would not so much as taste +it, which happened well for me; for in a little time after I perceived +my companions had lost their senses, and that when they spoke to me +they knew not what they said.</p> + +<p>The negroes fed us afterward with rice, prepared with oil of coconuts; +and my comrades, who had lost their reason, ate of it greedily. I also +partook of it, but very sparingly. They gave us that herb at first on +purpose to deprive us of our senses, that we might not be aware of the +sad destiny prepared for us; and they supplied us with rice to fatten +us; for, being cannibals,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> their design was to eat us as soon as we +grew fat. This accordingly happened, for they devoured my comrades, +who were not sensible of their condition; but my senses being entire, +you may easily guess that instead of growing fat, as the rest did, I +grew leaner every day. The fear of death turned all my food into +poison. I fell into a languishing distemper, which proved my safety; +for the negroes, having killed and eaten my companions, seeing me to +be withered, lean, and sick, deferred my death.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was taken of +what I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to get at a +distance from the houses, and to make my escape. An old man who saw +me, and suspected my design, called to me as loud as he could to +return; but instead of obeying him, I redoubled my speed, and quickly +got out of sight. At that time there was none but the old man about +the houses, the rest being abroad, and not to return till night, which +was usual with them. Therefore, being sure that they could not arrive +in time to pursue me, I went on till night, when I stopped to rest a +little, and to eat some of the provisions I had secured; but I +speedily set forward again, and traveled seven days, avoiding those +places which seemed to be inhabited, and lived for the most part upon +coconuts, which served me both for meat and drink. On the eighth day I +came near the sea, and saw some white people, like myself, gathering +pepper, of which there was great plenty in that place. This I took to +be a good omen, and went to them without any scruple.</p> + +<p>The people who gathered pepper came to meet me as soon as they saw me, +and asked me in Arabic who I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> was and whence I came. I was overjoyed +to hear them speak in my own language, and I satisfied their curiosity +by giving them an account of my shipwreck, and how I fell into the +hands of the negroes.</p> + +<p>"Those negroes," replied they, "eat men; and by what miracle did you +escape their cruelty?" I related to them the circumstances I have just +mentioned, at which they were wonderfully surprised.</p> + +<p>I stayed with them till they had gathered their quantity of pepper, +and then sailed with them to the island from whence they had come. +They presented me to their king, who was a good prince. He had the +patience to hear the relation of my adventures, which surprised him; +and he afterward gave me clothes, and commanded care to be taken of +me.</p> + +<p>The island was very well peopled, plentiful in everything, and the +capital a place of great trade. This agreeable retreat was very +comfortable to me after my misfortunes, and the kindness of this +generous prince completed my satisfaction. In a word, there was not a +person more in favor with him than myself, and consequently every man +in court and city sought to oblige me; so that in a very little time I +was looked upon rather as a native than a stranger.</p> + +<p>I observed one thing, which to me appeared very extraordinary. All the +people, the king himself not excepted, rode their horses without +bridle or stirrups. I went one day to a workman, and gave him a model +for making the stock of a saddle. When that was done, I covered it +myself with velvet and leather, and embroidered it with gold. I +afterward went to a smith, who made me a bit, according to the pattern +I showed him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> and also some stirrups. When I had all things +completed, I presented them to the king, and put them upon one of his +horses. His majesty mounted immediately, and was so pleased with them +that he testified his satisfaction by large presents. I made several +others for the ministers and principal officers of his household, +which gained me great reputation and regard.</p> + +<p>As I paid my court very constantly to the king, he said to me one day, +"Sindbad, I love thee. I have one thing to demand of thee, which thou +must grant. I have a mind thou shouldst marry, that so thou mayst stay +in my dominions, and think no more of thy own country."</p> + +<p>I durst not resist the prince's will, and he gave me one of the ladies +of his court, noble, beautiful, and rich. The ceremonies of marriage +being over, I went and dwelt with my wife, and for some time we lived +together in perfect harmony. I was not, however, satisfied with my +banishment. Therefore I designed to make my escape at the first +opportunity, and to return to Bagdad, which my present settlement, how +advantageous soever, could not make me forget.</p> + +<p>At this time the wife of one of my neighbors, with whom I had +contracted a very strict friendship, fell sick and died. I went to see +and comfort him in his affliction, and finding him absorbed in sorrow, +I said to him, as soon as I saw him, "God preserve you, and grant you +a long life."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" replied he, "how do you think I should obtain the favor you +wish me? I have not above an hour to live, for I must be buried this +day with my wife. This is a law on this island. The living husband is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +interred with the dead wife, and the living wife with the dead +husband."</p> + +<p>While he was giving me an account of this barbarous custom, the very +relation of which chilled my blood, his kindred, friends, and +neighbors came to assist at the funeral. They dressed the corpse of +the woman in her richest apparel and all her jewels, as if it had been +her wedding day; then they placed her on an open bier, and began their +march to the place of burial. The husband walked first, next to the +dead body. They proceeded to a high mountain, and when they had +reached the place of their destination they took up a large stone +which formed the mouth of a deep pit, and let down the body with all +its apparel and jewels. Then the husband, embracing his kindred and +friends, without resistance suffered himself to be placed on another +bier, with a pot of water and seven small loaves, and was let down in +the same manner. The ceremony being over, the mouth of the pit was +again covered with the stone, and the company returned.</p> + +<p>I mention this ceremony the more particularly because I was in a few +weeks' time to be the principal actor on a similar occasion. Alas! my +own wife fell sick and died. I made every remonstrance I could to the +king not to expose me, a foreigner, to this inhuman law. I appealed in +vain. The king and all his court, with the most considerable persons +of the city, sought to soften my sorrow by honoring the funeral +ceremony with their presence; and at the termination of the ceremony I +was lowered into the pit with a vessel full of water, and seven +loaves. As I approached the bottom I discovered, by the aid of the +little light that came from above, the nature of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> subterranean +place; it seemed an endless cavern, and might be about fifty fathoms +deep.</p> + +<p>I lived for some time upon my bread and water, when, one day, just as +I was on the point of exhaustion, I heard something tread, and +breathing or panting as it moved. I followed the sound. The animal +seemed to stop sometimes, but always fled and breathed hard as I +approached. I pursued it for a considerable time, till at last I +perceived a light, resembling a star; I went on, sometimes lost sight +of it, but always found it again, and at last discovered that it came +through a hole<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> in the rock, which I got through, and found myself +upon the seashore, at which I felt exceeding joy. I prostrated myself +on the shore to thank God for this mercy, and shortly afterward I +perceived a ship making for the place where I was. I made a sign with +the linen of my turban, and called to the crew as loud as I could. +They heard me, and sent a boat to bring me on board. It was fortunate +for me that these people did not inspect the place where they found +me, but without hesitation took me on board.</p> + +<p>We passed by several islands, and among others that called the Isle of +Bells, about ten days' sail from Serendib with a regular wind, and six +from that of Kela, where we landed. Lead mines are found in the +island; also Indian canes, and excellent camphor.</p> + +<p>The King of the Isle of Kela is very rich and powerful, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span>and the Isle +of Bells, which is about two days' journey away, is also subject to +him. The inhabitants are so barbarous that they still eat human flesh. +After we had finished our traffic in that island we put to sea again, +and touched at several other ports; at last I arrived happily at +Bagdad. Out of gratitude to God for His mercies, I contributed +liberally toward the support of several mosques and the subsistence of +the poor, and enjoyed myself with my friends in festivities and +amusements.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Here Sindbad made a new present of one hundred sequins to Hindbad, +whom he requested to return with the rest next day at the same hour, +to dine with him and hear the story of his fifth voyage.</p> + + +<h3>THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR</h3> +<p>All the troubles and calamities I had undergone could not cure me of +my inclination to make new voyages. I therefore bought goods, departed +with them for the best seaport, and there, that I might not be obliged +to depend upon a captain, but have a ship at my own command, I +remained till one was built on purpose, at my own charge. When the +ship was ready I went on board with my goods; but not having enough to +load her, I agreed to take with me several merchants of different +nations, with their merchandise.</p> + +<p>We sailed with the first fair wind, and after a long navigation the +first place we touched at was a desert island, where we found the egg +of a roc, equal in size to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> that I formerly mentioned. There was a +young roc in it, just ready to be hatched, and its beak had begun to +break the egg.</p> + +<p>The merchants who landed with me broke the egg with hatchets, and +making a hole in it, pulled out the young roc piecemeal, and roasted +it. I had in vain entreated them not to meddle with the egg.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had they finished their repast, when there appeared in the +air, at a considerable distance, two great clouds.<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> The captain of +my ship, knowing by experience what they meant, said they were the +male and female parents of the roc, and pressed us to reëmbark with +all speed, to prevent the misfortune which he saw would otherwise +befall us.</p> + +<p>The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they redoubled +when they saw the egg broken, and their young one gone. They flew back +in the direction they had come, and disappeared for some time, while +we made all the sail we could in the endeavor to prevent that which +unhappily befell us.</p> + +<p>They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried between +its talons an enormous rock. When they came directly over my ship, +they hovered, and one of them let go his rock; but by the dexterity of +the steersman it missed us and fell into the sea. The other so exactly +hit the middle of the ship as to split it into pieces. The mariners +and passengers were all crushed to death or fell into the sea. I +myself was of the number of the latter; but, as I came up again, I +fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, and swimming, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span>sometimes with one hand and sometimes with the other, but always +holding fast the plank, the wind and the tide favoring me, I came to +an island, and got safely ashore.</p> + +<p>I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, after +which I went into the island to explore it. It seemed to be a +delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them bearing green +and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh pure water. I ate of the +fruits, which I found excellent; and drank of the water, which was +very light and good.</p> + +<p>When I was a little advanced into the island, I saw an old man, who +appeared very weak and infirm. He was sitting on the bank of a stream, +and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked like +myself. I went toward him and saluted him, but he only slightly bowed +his head. I asked him why he sat so still; but instead of answering +me, he made a sign for me to take him upon my back, and carry him over +the brook.</p> + +<p>I believed him really to stand in need of my assistance, took him upon +my back, and having carried him over, bade him get down, and for that +end stooped, that he might get off with ease; but instead of doing so +(which I laugh at every time I think of it), the old man, who to me +appeared quite decrepit, threw his legs nimbly about my neck. He sat +astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so tight that I thought +he would have strangled me, and I fainted away.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow still kept his +seat upon my neck. When I had recovered my breath, he thrust one of +his feet against my side, and struck me so rudely with the other that +he forced me to rise up, against my will. Having arisen,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> he made me +carry him under the trees, and forced me now and then to stop, that he +might gather and eat fruit. He never left his seat all day; and when I +lay down to rest at night he laid himself down with me, still holding +fast about my neck. Every morning he pinched me to make me awake, and +afterward obliged me to get up and walk, and spurred me with his feet.</p> + +<p>One day I found several dry calabashes that had fallen from a tree. I +took a large one, and after cleaning it, pressed into it some juice of +grapes, which abounded in the island. Having filled the calabash, I +put it by in a convenient place, and going thither again some days +after, I tasted it, and found the wine so good that it gave me new +vigor, and so exhilarated my spirits that I began to sing and dance as +I carried my burden.</p> + +<p>The old man, perceiving the effect which this had upon me, and that I +carried him with more ease than before, made me a sign to give him +some of it. I handed him the calabash, and the liquor pleasing his +palate, he drank it off. There being a considerable quantity of it, he +soon began to sing, and to move about from side to side in his seat +upon my shoulders, and by degrees to loosen his legs from about me. +Finding that he did not press me as before, I threw him upon the +ground, where he lay without motion. I then took up a great stone and +slew him.</p> + +<p>I was extremely glad to be thus freed forever from this troublesome +fellow. I now walked toward the beach, where I met the crew of a ship +that had cast anchor, to take in water. They were surprised to see me, +but more so at hearing the particulars of my adventures.</p> + +<p>"You fell," said they, "into the hands of the old man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> of the sea, and +are the first who ever escaped strangling by his malicious embraces. +He never quitted those he had once made himself master of, till he had +destroyed them, and he has made this island notorious by the number of +men he has slain."</p> + +<p>They carried me with them to the captain, who received me with great +kindness. He put out again to sea, and after some days' sail we +arrived at the harbor of a great city, the houses of which overhung +the sea.</p> + +<p>One of the merchants, who had taken me into his friendship, invited me +to go along with him. He gave me a large sack, and having recommended +me to some people of the town, who used to gather coconuts, desired +them to take me with them.</p> + +<p>"Go," said he, "follow them, and act as you see them do; but do not +separate from them, otherwise you may endanger your life."</p> + +<p>Having thus spoken, he gave me provisions for the journey, and I went +with them.</p> + +<p>We came to a thick forest of coco palms,<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> very lofty, with trunks +so smooth that it was not possible to climb to the branches that bore +the fruit. When we entered the forest we saw a great number of apes of +several sizes, who fled as soon as they perceived us, and climbed to +the tops of the trees with amazing swiftness.</p> + +<p>The merchants with whom I was gathered stones, and threw them at the +apes on the trees. I did the same; and the apes, out of revenge, threw +coconuts at us so fast, and with such gestures, as sufficiently +testified their anger and resentment. We gathered up the coconuts, and +from time to time threw stones to provoke the apes; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span>so that by this +stratagem we filled our bags with coconuts. I thus gradually collected +as many coconuts as produced me a considerable sum.</p> + +<p>Having laden our vessel with coconuts, we set sail, and passed by the +islands where pepper grows in great plenty. From thence we went to the +Isle of Comari, where the best species of wood of aloes grows. I +exchanged my coconuts in those two islands for pepper and wood of +aloes, and went with other merchants pearl fishing.<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> I hired +divers, who brought me up some that were very large and pure. I +embarked in a vessel that happily arrived at Bussorah; from thence I +returned to Bagdad, where I realized vast sums from my pepper, wood of +aloes, and pearls. I gave the tenth of my gains in alms, as I had done +upon my return from my other voyages, and rested from my fatigues.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Sindbad here ordered one hundred sequins to be given to Hindbad, and +requested him and the other guests to dine with him the next day, to +hear the account of his sixth voyage.</p> + + +<h3>THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR</h3> +<p>I know, my friends, that you will wish to hear how, after having been +shipwrecked five times, and escaped so many dangers, I could resolve +again to tempt fortune, and expose myself to new hardships. I am +myself astonished at my conduct when I reflect upon it, and must +certainly have been actuated by my destiny, from which none can +escape. Be that as it may, after a year's <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span>rest I prepared for a sixth +voyage, notwithstanding the entreaties of my kindred and friends, who +did all in their power to dissuade me.</p> + +<p>Instead of taking my way by the Persian Gulf I traveled once more +through several provinces of Persia and the Indies, and arrived at a +seaport. Here I embarked in a ship, the captain of which was bound on +a long voyage, in which he and the pilot lost their course. Suddenly +we saw the captain quit his rudder, uttering loud lamentations. He +threw off his turban, pulled his beard, and beat his head like a +madman. We asked him the reason; and he answered that we were in the +most dangerous place in all the ocean.</p> + +<p>"A rapid current carries the ship along with it, and we shall all +perish in less than a quarter of an hour. Pray to God to deliver us +from this peril. We cannot escape, if He do not take pity on us."</p> + +<p>At these words he ordered the sails to be lowered; but all the ropes +broke, and the ship was carried by the current to the foot of an +inaccessible mountain, where she struck and went to pieces; yet in +such a manner that we saved our lives, our provisions, and the best of +our goods.</p> + +<p>The mountain at the foot of which we were was covered with wrecks, +with a vast number of human bones, and with an incredible quantity of +goods and riches of all kinds, These objects served only to augment +our despair. In all other places it is usual for rivers to run from +their channels into the sea; but here a river of fresh water<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> runs +from the sea into a dark cavern, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span>whose entrance is very high and +spacious. What is most remarkable in this place is that the stones of +the mountain are of crystal, rubies, or other precious stones. Here is +also a sort of fountain of pitch or bitumen,<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> that runs into the +sea, which the fish swallow, and evacuate soon afterward, turned into +ambergris<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a>; and this the waves throw up on the beach in great +quantities. Trees also grow here, most of which are of wood of +aloes,<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> equal in goodness to those of Comari.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_8" id="pic_8"></a> +<img src="images/image_016.jpg" width="500" height="735" alt="Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board with two oars I had made." title="Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board with two oars I had made." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board with two oars I had made. <a href="#anch_7">Page 281</a></span></div> + +<p>To finish the description of this place, it is not possible for ships +to get off when once they approach within a certain distance. If they +be driven thither by a wind from the sea, the wind and the current +impel them; and if they come into it when a land wind blows, which +might seem to favor their getting out again, the height of the +mountain stops the wind, and occasions a calm, so that the force of +the current carries them ashore; and what completes the misfortune is, +that there is no possibility of ascending the mountain, or of escaping +by sea.</p> + +<p>We continued upon the shore, at the foot of the mountain, in a state +of despair, and expected death every day. On our first landing we had +divided our provisions as equally as we could, and thus every one +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span>lived a longer or a shorter time, according to his temperance, and +the use he made of his provisions.</p> + + + +<p>I survived all my companions; and when I buried the last I had so +little provisions remaining that I thought I could not long survive, +and I dug a grave, resolving to lie down in it because there was no +one left to pay me the last offices of respect. But it pleased God +once more to take compassion on me, and put it in my mind to go to the +bank of the river which ran into the great cavern. Considering its +probable course with great attention, I said to myself, "This river, +which runs thus underground, must somewhere have an issue. If I make a +raft, and leave myself to the current, it will convey me to some +inhabited country, or I shall perish. If I be drowned, I lose nothing, +but only change one kind of death for another."</p> + +<p>I immediately went to work upon large pieces of timber and cables, for +I had a choice of them from the wrecks, and tied them together so +strongly that I soon made a very solid raft. When I had finished, I +loaded it with some chests of rubies, emeralds, ambergris, +rock-crystal, and bales of rich stuffs. <a name="anch_7" id="anch_7"></a>Having balanced my cargo +exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board with two +oars that I had made, and leaving it to the course of the river, +resigned myself to the will of God.</p> + +<p>As soon as I entered the cavern I lost all light, and the stream +carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated on in perfect darkness, +and once found the arch so low, that it very nearly touched my head, +which made me cautious afterward to avoid the like danger. All this +while I ate nothing but what was just necessary to support nature; +yet, notwithstanding my frugality, all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> my provisions were spent. Then +I became insensible. I cannot tell how long I continued so; but when I +revived, I was surprised to find myself on an extensive plain on the +brink of a river, where my raft was tied, amidst a great number of +negroes.</p> + +<p>I got up as soon as I saw them, and saluted them. They spoke to me, +but I did not understand their language. I was so transported with joy +that I knew not whether I was asleep or awake; but being persuaded +that I was not asleep, I recited the following words in Arabic aloud: +"Call upon the Almighty, He will help thee; thou needest not perplex +thyself about anything else: shut thy eyes, and while thou art asleep, +God will change thy bad fortune into good."</p> + +<p>One of the negroes, who understood Arabic, hearing me speak thus, came +toward me, and said, "Brother, be not surprised to see us; we are +inhabitants of this country, and water our fields from this river, +which comes out of the neighboring mountain. We saw your raft, and one +of us swam into the river, and brought it hither, where we fastened +it, as you see, until you should awake. Pray tell us your history. +Whence did you come?"</p> + +<p>I begged of them first to give me something to eat, and then I would +satisfy their curiosity. They gave me several sorts of food, and when +I had satisfied my hunger I related all that had befallen me, which +they listened to with attentive surprise. As soon as I had finished, +they told me, by the person who spoke Arabic and interpreted to them +what I said, that I must go along with them, and tell my story to +their king myself, it being too extraordinary to be related by any +other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> than the person to whom the events had happened.</p> + +<p>They immediately sent for a horse, and having helped me to mount, some +of them walked before to show the way, while the rest took my raft and +cargo and followed.</p> + +<p>We marched till we came to the capital of Serendib, for it was on that +island I had landed. The negroes presented me to their king; I +approached his throne, and saluted him as I used to do the kings of +the Indies; that is to say, I prostrated myself at his feet. The +prince ordered me to rise, received me with an obliging air, and made +me sit down near him.</p> + +<p>I concealed nothing from the king, but related to him all that I have +told you. At last my raft was brought in, and the bales opened in his +presence: he admired the quantity of wood of aloes and ambergris; but, +above all, the rubies and emeralds, for he had none in his treasury +that equaled them.</p> + +<p>Observing that he looked on my jewels with pleasure, and viewed the +most remarkable among them, one after another, I fell prostrate at his +feet, and took the liberty to say to him, "Sire, not only my person is +at your majesty's service, but the cargo of the raft, and I would beg +of you to dispose of it as your own."</p> + +<p>He answered me with a smile, "Sindbad, I will take nothing of yours; +far from lessening your wealth, I design to augment it, and will not +let you quit my dominions without marks of my liberality."</p> + +<p>He then charged one of his officers to take care of me, and ordered +people to serve me at his own expense. The officer was very faithful +in the execution of his commission, and caused all the goods to be +carried to the lodgings provided for me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p> + +<p>I went every day at a set hour to make my court to the king, and spent +the rest of my time in viewing the city, and what was most worthy of +notice.</p> + +<p>The capital of Serendib stands at the end of a fine valley, in the +middle of the island, encompassed by high mountains. They are seen +three days' sail off at sea. Rubies and several sorts of minerals +abound. All kinds of rare plants and trees grow there, especially +cedars and coconut. There is also a pearl fishery in the mouth of its +principal river, and in some of its valleys are found diamonds. I +made, by way of devotion, a pilgrimage to the place where Adam was +confined after his banishment from Paradise, and had the curiosity to +go to the top of the mountain.</p> + +<p>When I returned to the city I prayed the king to allow me to return to +my own country, and he granted me permission in the most obliging and +honorable manner. He would force a rich present upon me; and at the +same time he charged me with a letter for the Commander of the +Faithful, our sovereign, saying to me, "I pray you give this present +from me, and this letter, to the Caliph Haroun al Raschid, and assure +him of my friendship."</p> + +<p>The letter from the King of Serendib was written on the skin of a +certain animal of great value, very scarce, and of a yellowish color. +The characters of this letter were of azure, and the contents as +follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The King of the Indies, before whom march one hundred +elephants, who lives in a palace that shines with one +hundred thousand rubies, and who has in his treasury twenty +thousand crowns enriched with diamonds, to Caliph Haroun al +Raschid.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Though the present we send you be inconsiderable, receive +it, however, as a brother and a friend, in consideration of +the hearty friendship which we bear for you, and of which we +are willing to give you proof. We desire the same part in +your friendship, considering that we believe it to be our +merit, as we are both kings. We send you this letter as from +one brother to another. Farewell."</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The present consisted (1) of one single ruby made into a cup, about +half a foot high, an inch thick, and filled with round pearls of half +a dram each. (2) The skin of a serpent, whose scales were as bright as +an ordinary piece of gold, and had the virtue to preserve from +sickness those who lay upon it.<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> (3) Fifty thousand drams of the +best wood of aloes, with thirty grains of camphor as big as +pistachios. And (4) a female slave of great beauty, whose robe was +covered with jewels.</p> + +<p>The ship set sail, and after a very successful navigation we landed at +Bussorah, and from thence I went to the city of Bagdad, where the +first thing I did was to acquit myself of my commission.</p> + +<p>I took the King of Serendib's letter, and went to present myself at +the gate of the Commander of the Faithful, and was immediately +conducted to the throne of the caliph. I made my obeisance, and +presented the letter and gift. When he had read what the King of +Serendib wrote to him, he asked me if that prince were really so rich +and potent as he represented himself in his letter. I prostrated +myself a second time, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span>rising again, said, "Commander of the +Faithful, I can assure your majesty he doth not exceed the truth. I +bear him witness. Nothing is more worthy of admiration than the +magnificence of his palace. When the prince appears in public,<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> he +has a throne fixed on the back of an elephant, and rides betwixt two +ranks of his ministers, favorites, and other people of his court. +Before him, upon the same elephant, an officer carries a golden +lance<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> in his hand; and behind him there is another, who stands +with a rod of gold, on the top of which is an emerald, half a foot +long and an inch thick. He is attended by a guard of one thousand men, +clad in cloth of gold and silk, and mounted on elephants richly +caparisoned. The officer who is before him on the same elephant, cries +from time to time, with a loud voice, 'Behold the great monarch, the +potent and redoubtable Sultan of the Indies, the monarch greater than +Solomon, and the powerful Maharaja.' After he has pronounced those +words, the officer behind the throne cries, in his turn, 'This +monarch, so great and so powerful, must die, must die, must die.'<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> +And the officer before replies, 'Praise alone be to Him who liveth +forever and ever.'"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span></p><p>The caliph was much pleased with my account, and sent me home with a +rich present.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Here Sindbad commanded another hundred sequins to be paid to Hindbad, +and begged his return on the morrow to hear his seventh and last +voyage.</p> + + +<h3>THE SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR</h3> +<p>On my return home from my sixth voyage I had entirely given up all +thoughts of again going to sea; for, besides that my age now required +rest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to such risks as I had +encountered, so that I thought of nothing but to pass the rest of my +days in tranquillity. One day, however, an officer of the caliph's +inquired for me.</p> + +<p>"The caliph," said he, "has sent me to tell you that he must speak +with you."</p> + +<p>I followed the officer to the palace, where, being presented to the +caliph, I saluted him by prostrating myself at his feet.</p> + +<p>"Sindbad," said he to me, "I stand in need of your service; you must +carry my answer and present to the King of Serendib."</p> + +<p>This command of the caliph was to me like a clap of thunder. +"Commander of the Faithful," I replied, "I am ready to do whatever +your majesty shall think fit to command; but I beseech you most humbly +to consider what I have undergone. I have also made a vow never to +leave Bagdad."</p> + +<p>Perceiving that the caliph insisted upon my compliance, I submitted, +and told him that I was willing to obey. He was very well pleased, and +ordered me one thousand sequins for the expenses of my journey.</p> + +<p>I prepared for my departure in a few days. As soon as the caliph's +letter and present were delivered to me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> I went to Bussorah, where I +embarked, and had a very prosperous voyage. Having arrived at the Isle +of Serendib, I was conducted to the palace with much pomp, when I +prostrated myself on the ground before the king.</p> + +<p>"Sindbad," said the king, "you are welcome. I have many times thought +of you; I bless the day on which I see you once more."</p> + +<p>I made my compliments to him, and thanked him for his kindness, and +delivered the gifts from my august master.</p> + +<p>The caliph's letter was as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Greeting, in the name of the Sovereign Guide of the Right +Way, from the servant of God, Haroun al Raschid, whom God +hath set in the place of vice-regent to His Prophet, after +his ancestors of happy memory, to the potent and esteemed +Raja of Serendib.</p> + +<p>"We received your letter with joy, and send you this from +our imperial residence, the garden of superior wits. We +hope, when you look upon it, you will perceive our good +intention, and be pleased with it. Farewell."</p></div> + +<p>The caliph's present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, valued at +one thousand sequins; fifty robes of rich stuff, a hundred of white +cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria; a vessel of agate, +more broad than deep, an inch thick, and half a foot wide, the bottom +of which represented in bas-relief a man with one knee on the ground, +who held a bow and an arrow, ready to discharge at a lion. He sent him +also a rich tablet, which,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> according to tradition, belonged to the +great Solomon.</p> + +<p>The King of Serendib was highly gratified at the caliph's +acknowledgment of his friendship. A little time after this audience I +solicited leave to depart, and with much difficulty obtained it. The +king, when he dismissed me, made me a very considerable present. I +embarked immediately to return to Bagdad, but had not the good fortune +to arrive there so speedily as I had hoped. God ordered it otherwise.</p> + +<p>Three or four days after my departure we were attacked by pirates, who +easily seized upon our ship because it was not a vessel of war. Some +of the crew offered resistance, which cost them their lives. But for +myself and the rest, who were not so imprudent, the pirates saved us, +and carried us into a remote island, where they sold us.</p> + +<p>I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as he bought +me, took me to his house, treated me well, and clad me handsomely as a +slave. Some days after, he asked me if I understood any trade. I +answered that I was no mechanic, but a merchant, and that the pirates +who sold me had robbed me of all I possessed.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," replied he, "can you shoot with a bow?"</p> + +<p>I answered, that the bow was one of my exercises<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> in my youth. He +gave me a bow and arrows, and taking me behind him on an elephant, +carried me to a thick forest some leagues from the town. We penetrated +a great way into the wood, and when he thought fit to stop, he bade me +alight; then showing me a great tree, "Climb up that," said he, "and +shoot at the elephants <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span>as you see them pass by, for there is a +prodigious number of them in this forest, and if any of them fall come +and give me notice." Having spoken thus, he left me victuals, and +returned to the town, and I continued upon the tree all night.</p> + +<p>I saw no elephant during the night, but next morning, at break of day, +I perceived a great number. I shot several arrows among them; and at +last one of the elephants fell, when the rest retired immediately, and +left me at liberty to go and acquaint my patron with my success. When +I had informed him, he commended my dexterity, and caressed me highly. +We went afterward together to the forest, where we dug a hole for the +elephant, my patron designing to return when it was rotten, and take +his teeth to trade with.</p> + +<p>I continued this employment for two months. One morning, as I looked +for the elephants, I perceived with extreme amazement that, instead of +passing by me across the forest as usual, they stopped, and came to me +with a horrible noise, and in such numbers that the plain was covered +and shook under them. They surrounded the tree in which I was +concealed, with their trunks uplifted, and all fixed their eyes upon +me. At this alarming spectacle I continued immovable, and was so much +terrified that my bow and arrows fell out of my hand.</p> + +<p>My fears were not without cause; for after the elephants had stared +upon me some time, one of the largest of them put his trunk round the +foot of the tree, plucked it up, and threw it on the ground. I fell +with the tree, and the elephant, taking me up with his trunk, laid me +on his back, where I sat more like one dead than alive,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> with my +quiver on my shoulder. He put himself at the head of the rest, who +followed him in line one after the other, carried me a considerable +way, then laid me down on the ground, and retired with all his +companions. After having lain some time, and seeing the elephants +gone, I got up, and found I was upon a long and broad hill, almost +covered with the bones and teeth of elephants. I doubted not but that +this was the burial place of the elephants, and that they carried me +thither on purpose to tell me that I should forbear to kill them, as +now I knew where to get their teeth without inflicting injury on them. +I did not stay on the hill, but turned toward the city; and after +having traveled a day and a night, I came to my patron.</p> + +<p>As soon as my patron saw me, "Ah, poor Sindbad," exclaimed he, "I was +in great trouble to know what was become of you. I have been to the +forest, where I found a tree newly pulled up, and your bow and arrows +on the ground, and I despaired of ever seeing you more. Pray tell me +what befell you."</p> + +<p>I satisfied his curiosity, and we both of us set out next morning to +the hill. We loaded the elephant which had carried us with as many +teeth as he could bear; and when we were returned, my master thus +addressed me: "Hear now what I shall tell you. The elephants of our +forest have every year killed us a great many slaves, whom we sent to +seek ivory. For all the cautions we could give them, these crafty +animals destroyed them one time or other. God has delivered you from +their fury, and has bestowed that favor upon you only. It is a sign +that He loves you, and has some use for your service in the world. You +have procured me incredible wealth; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> now our whole city is +enriched by your means, without any more exposing the lives of our +slaves. After such a discovery, I can treat you no more as a slave, +but as a brother. God bless you with all happiness and prosperity. I +henceforth give you your liberty; I will also give you riches."</p> + +<p>To this I replied, "Master, God preserve you. I desire no other reward +for the service I had the good fortune to do to you and your city, but +leave to return to my own country."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said he, "the monsoon<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> will in a little time bring +ships for ivory. I will then send you home."</p> + +<p>I stayed with him while waiting for the monsoon; and during that time +we made so many journeys to the hill that we filled all our warehouses +with ivory. The other merchants who traded in it did the same; for my +master made them partakers of his good fortune.</p> + +<p>The ships arrived at last, and my master himself having made choice of +the ship wherein I was to embark, loaded half of it with ivory on my +account, laid in provisions in abundance for my passage, and besides +obliged me to accept a present of some curiosities of the country of +great value. After I had returned him a thousand thanks for all his +favors, I went aboard.</p> + +<p>We stopped at some islands to take in fresh provisions. Our vessel +being come to a port on the mainland in the Indies, we touched there, +and not being willing to venture by sea to Bussorah, I landed my +portion of the ivory, resolving to proceed on my journey by land. I +realized vast sums by my ivory, bought several rarities, which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span>I +intended for presents, and when my equipage was ready, set out in +company with a large caravan of merchants. I was a long time on the +journey, and suffered much, but was happy in thinking that I had +nothing to fear from the seas, from pirates, from serpents, or from +the other perils to which I had been exposed.</p> + +<p>I at last arrived safe at Bagdad, and immediately waited upon the +caliph, to give him an account of my embassy. He loaded me with honors +and rich presents, and I have ever since devoted myself to my family, +kindred, and friends.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Sindbad here finished the relation of his seventh and last voyage, and +then addressing himself to Hindbad, "Well, friend," said he, "did you +ever hear of any person that suffered so much as I have done? Is it +not reasonable that, after all this, I should enjoy a quiet and +pleasant life?"</p> + +<p>As he said these words, Hindbad kissed his hand, and said, "Sir, my +afflictions are not to be compared with yours. You not only deserve a +quiet life but are worthy of all the riches you possess, since you +make so good a use of them. May you live happily for a long time."</p> + +<p>Sindbad ordered him to be paid another hundred sequins, and told him +to give up carrying burdens as a porter, and to eat henceforth at his +table, for he wished that he should all his life have reason to +remember that he henceforth had a friend in Sindbad the sailor.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> These voyages of Sindbad are among the most curious of +the tales contained in the Arabian Nights. They deserve a passing word +of remark. Mr. Richard Hole of Exeter, about a century since, wrote a +treatise upon them. He shows that while they must be regarded in many +respects as fabulous, yet that they illustrate the early stories +prevalent about strange countries. The earlier writers, as Plutarch, +Aelian, Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny, mention the incidents related in +these tales, as also do the earliest modern travelers, the Venetian +Marco Polo, and the English Sir John Mandeville.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Milton thus describes the Leviathan: + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"How haply slumbering on the Norway foam,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The pilot of some small night-founder'd skiff,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Deeming some island, oft as seamen tell,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With fixed anchor in his scally rind<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Moors by his side."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> Mr. More, in his account of these voyages, says that +Marco Polo, in his <i>Travels</i>, and Father Martini, in his <i>History of +China</i>, speak of this bird, called <i>ruch</i>, and say it will take up an +elephant and a rhinoceros. It is as fabulous as the dodo, the +salamander, or the phoenix.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Captain Marryat, in his <i>Bushboys</i>, gives an account of +this contest, in which the rhinoceros came off victorious. He also +gives, in the same amusing volume, an account of a bird taking up a +serpent into the air. The scene of the adventures of the <i>Bushboys</i> is +South Africa.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> The youthful student will find in these references +passages which will remind in some degree of the incidents mentioned +in these tales: Homer's <i>Odyssey</i>, book iv, lines 350-410; <i>Iliad</i>, +book xx, line 220; book xiii, lines 20-35; Virgil, <i>Aeneid</i>, iii, +lines 356-542.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> Sandalwood. The wood of a low tree, the Santalum Album, +resembling the privet, and growing on the coast of Malabar, in the +Indian Archipelago, etc. The hard yellow wood in the center of the old +sandal tree is highly esteemed for its fragrant perfume and is much +used for cabinetwork, etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> The hippopotamus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> The giraffe.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> "Aristomenes, the Messenian general, thus escaped from a +cave. He perceived a fox near him gnawing a dead body; with one hand +he caught it by the hind leg, and with the other held its jaws, when +it attempted to bite him. Following, as well as he could, his +struggling guide to the narrow crevice at which he entered, he there +let him go, and soon forced a passage through it to the welcome face +of day."—Hole, 141. Sancho's escape from the pit into which he +tumbled with Daffle is somewhat similar.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> Mr. Marsden, in his notes to his translation of Marco +Polo's <i>Voyages</i>, supposes the roc to be a description of the +albatross or condor, under greatly exaggerated terms.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> Coco palms bear their fruit at the top.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> Marco Polo, a famous voyager (1298), gives an account of +this pearl fishery.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> Mr. Ives mentions wells of fresh water under the sea in +the Persian Gulf, near the island of Barien.—Hole.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> "Such fountains are not unfrequent in India and in +Ceylon; and the Mohammedan travelers speak of ambergris swallowed by +whales, who are made sick and regorge it."—Hole.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> "Ambergris—a substance of animal origin, found +principally in warm climates floating on the sea, or thrown on the +coast. The best comes from Madagascar, Surinam, and Java. When it is +heated or rubbed, it exhales an agreeable odor."—Knight's <i>English +Cyclopædia</i>, Vol. I, p. 142.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> "Camphor is the produce of certain trees in Borneo, +Sumatra, and Japan. The camphor lies in perpendicular veins near the +center of the tree, or in its knots, and the same tree exudes a fluid +termed oil of camphor. The Venetians, and subsequently the Dutch, +monopolized the sale of camphor."—<i>Encyclopædia Metropolitana</i>, Vol. +III, p. 195. Gibbons, in his notes to the <i>Decline and Fall</i>, says: +"From the remote islands of the Indian Ocean a large provision of +camphor had been imported, which is employed, with a mixture of wax, +to illuminate the palaces of the East."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> "There is a snake in Bengal whose skin is esteemed a +cure for external pains by applying it to the part affected."—Hole.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> "The king is honorably distinguished by various kinds of +ornaments, such as a collar set with jewels, sapphires, emeralds, and +rubies of immense value."—Marco Polo, p. 384.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> "Throwing the lance was a favorite pastime among the +young Arabians, and prepared them for the chase or war."—Notes to +<i>Vathek</i>, p. 295.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> Thus the Roman slave, on the triumph of an imperator, +"Respice post te, hominem te esse memento"; or the page of Philip of +Macedonia, who was made to address him every morning, "Remember, +Philip, thou art mortal."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> "The use of a bow was a constituent part of an Eastern +education."—Notes to <i>Vathek</i>, p. 301. See the account of Cyrus's +education—Xenophon's <i>Cyclopædia.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> Periodical winds blowing six months from the same +quarter or point of the compass, then changing, and blowing the same +time from the opposite quarter.</p></div> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Arabian Nights Entertainments, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS *** + +***** This file should be named 19860-h.htm or 19860-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/8/6/19860/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Arabian Nights Entertainments + +Author: Anonymous + +Illustrator: Milo Winter + +Release Date: November 18, 2006 [EBook #19860] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: _The genie immediately returned with a tray bearing +dishes of the most delicious viands. Page 168._] + + + + + THE WINDERMERE SERIES + + + + The Arabian Nights + Entertainments + + + + WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY + + MILO WINTER + + + + + + RAND McNALLY & COMPANY + + CHICAGO NEW YORK + + + + + + _Copyright, 1914, by_ + + RAND McNALLY & COMPANY + + * * * * * + + + + +THE INTRODUCTION + + +The _Arabian Nights_ was introduced to Europe in a French translation +by Antoine Galland in 1704, and rapidly attained a unique popularity. +There are even accounts of the translator being roused from sleep by +bands of young men under his windows in Paris, importuning him to tell +them another story. + +The learned world at first refused to believe that M. Galland had not +invented the tales. But he had really discovered an Arabic manuscript +from sixteenth-century Egypt, and had consulted Oriental +story-tellers. In spite of inaccuracies and loss of color, his twelve +volumes long remained classic in France, and formed the basis of our +popular translations. + +A more accurate version, corrected from the Arabic, with a style +admirably direct, easy, and simple, was published by Dr. Jonathan +Scott in 1811. This is the text of the present edition. + +The Moslems delight in stories, but are generally ashamed to show a +literary interest in fiction. Hence the world's most delightful story +book has come to us with but scant indications of its origin. Critical +scholarship, however, has been able to reach fairly definite +conclusions. + +The reader will be interested to trace out for himself the +similarities in the adventures of the two Persian queens, +Schehera-zade, and Esther of Bible story, which M. de Goeje has +pointed out as indicating their original identity (_Encyclopaedia +Britannica_, "Thousand and One Nights"). There are two or three +references in tenth-century Arabic literature to a Persian collection +of tales, called _The Thousand Nights_, by the fascination of which +the lady Schehera-zade kept winning one more day's lease of life. A +good many of the tales as we have them contain elements clearly +indicating Persian or Hindu origin. But most of the stories, even +those with scenes laid in Persia or India, are thoroughly Mohammedan +in thought, feeling, situation, and action. + +The favorite scene is "the glorious city," ninth-century Bagdad, whose +caliph, Haroun al Raschid, though a great king, and heir of still +mightier men, is known to fame chiefly by the favor of these tales. +But the contents (with due regard to the possibility of later +insertions), references in other writings, and the dialect show that +our _Arabian Nights_ took form in Egypt very soon after the year 1450. +The author, doubtless a professional teller of stories, was, like his +Schehera-zade, a person of extensive reading and faultless memory, +fluent of speech, and ready on occasion to drop into poetry. The +coarseness of the Arabic narrative, which does not appear in our +translation, is characteristic of Egyptian society under the Mameluke +sultans. It would have been tolerated by the subjects of the caliph in +old Bagdad no more than by modern Christians. + +More fascinating stories were never told. Though the oath of an +Oriental was of all things the most sacred, and though Schah-riar had +"bound himself by a solemn vow to marry a new wife every night, and +command her to be strangled in the morning," we well believe that he +forswore himself, and granted his bride a stay of execution until he +could find out why the ten polite young gentlemen, all blind of the +right eye, "having blackened themselves, wept and lamented, beating +their heads and breasts, and crying continually, 'This is the fruit of +our idleness and curiosity.'" To be sure, when the golden door has +been opened, and the black horse has vanished with that vicious switch +of his tail, we have a little feeling of having been "sold,"--a +feeling which great art never gives. But we are in the best of humor; +for were we not warned all along against just this foible of +curiosity, and is not the story-teller smiling inscrutably and +advising us to be thankful that we at least still have our two good +eyes? + +Beside the story interest, the life and movement of the tales, the +spirits that enter and set their own precedents, there is for us the +charm of mingling with men so different from ourselves: men +adventurous but never strenuous, men of many tribulations but no +perplexities. Fantastic, magnificent, extravagant, beautiful, +gloriously colored, humorous--was ever book of such infinite +contrasts? + + * * * * * + + + + +THE CONTENTS + + +THE SULTAN AND HIS VOW + +THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE + +THE THREE CALENDERS, SONS OF KINGS, AND THE FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD + +THE STORY OF THE THREE SISTERS + +THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP + +THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS KILLED BY ONE SLAVE + +THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + + + + +THE ILLUSTRATIONS + + +_The genie immediately returned with a tray bearing dishes of + the most delicious viands_ Frontispiece + +_He had the gift of understanding the language of beasts_ + +_He was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such + beauties_ + +_These ladies vied with each other in their eager solicitude to do me + all possible service_ + +_The gardener, with the rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket to + the side of the canal_ + +_He presently discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave + into the princess's hands_ + +_She drew the poniard, and, holding it in her hand, began a dance_ + +_Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, + I went on board with the two oars I had made_ + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + + + + +THE ARABIAN NIGHTS + +THE SULTAN AND HIS VOW + + +It is written in the chronicles of the Sassanian monarchs that there +once lived an illustrious prince, beloved by his own subjects for his +wisdom and his prudence, and feared by his enemies for his courage and +for the hardy and well-disciplined army of which he was the leader. +This prince had two sons, the elder called Schah-riar, and the younger +Schah-zenan, both equally good and deserving of praise. + +When the old king died at the end of a long and glorious reign, +Schah-riar, his eldest son, ascended the throne and reigned in his +stead. Schah-zenan, however, was not in the least envious, and a +friendly contest soon arose between the two brothers as to which could +best promote the happiness of the other. Schah-zenan did all he could +to show his loyalty and affection, while the new sultan loaded his +brother with all possible honors, and in order that he might in some +degree share the sultan's power and wealth, bestowed on him the +kingdom of Great Tartary. Schah-zenan immediately went to take +possession of the empire allotted him, and fixed his residence at +Samarcand, the chief city. + +After a separation of ten years Schah-riar so ardently desired to see +his brother, that he sent his first vizier,[1] with a splendid +embassy, to invite him to revisit his court. As soon as Schah-zenan +was informed of the approach of the vizier, he went out to meet him, +with all his ministers, in most magnificent dress, and inquired after +the health of the sultan, his brother. Having replied to these +affectionate inquiries, the vizier told the purpose of his coming. +Schah-zenan, who was much affected at the kindness and recollection of +his brother, then addressed the vizier in these words: "Sage vizier, +the sultan, my brother, does me too much honor. It is impossible that +his wish to see me can exceed my desire of again beholding him. You +have come at a happy moment. My kingdom is tranquil, and in ten days' +time I will be ready to depart with you. Meanwhile pitch your tents on +this spot, and I will order every refreshment and accommodation for +you and your whole train." + +[Footnote 1: Vazir, Vezir--literally, a porter, that is, the minister +who bears the principal burden of the state.--D'Herbelot, +_Bibliotheque Orientale._] + +At the end of ten days everything was ready, and Schah-zenan took a +tender leave of the queen, his consort. Accompanied by such officers +as he had appointed to attend him, he left Samarcand in the evening +and camped near the tents of his brother's ambassador, that they might +proceed on their journey early the following morning. Wishing, +however, once more to see his queen, whom he tenderly loved, he +returned privately to the palace, and went directly to her apartment. +There, to his extreme grief, he found her in the company of a slave +whom she plainly loved better than himself. Yielding to the first +outburst of his indignation, the unfortunate monarch drew his +scimitar, and with one rapid stroke slew them both. + +He then went from the city as privately as he had entered it, and +returned to his pavilion. Not a word did he say to any one of what +had happened. At dawn he ordered the tents to be struck, and the party +set forth on their journey to the sound of drums and other musical +instruments. The whole train was filled with joy, except the king, who +could think of nothing but his queen, and he was a prey to the deepest +grief and melancholy during the whole journey. + +When he approached the capital of Persia he perceived the Sultan +Schah-riar and all his court coming out to greet him. As soon as the +parties met the two brothers alighted and embraced each other; and +after a thousand expressions of regard, remounted and entered the city +amid the shouts of the multitude. The sultan there conducted the king +his brother to a palace which had been prepared for him. This palace +communicated by a garden with the sultan's own and was even more +magnificent, as it was the spot where all the fetes and splendid +entertainments of the court were given. + +Schah-riar left the King of Tartary in order that he might bathe and +change his dress; but immediately on his return from the bath went to +him again. They seated themselves on a sofa, and conversed till supper +time. After so long a separation they seemed even more united by +affection than by blood. They ate supper together, and then continued +their conversation till Schah-riar, perceiving the night far advanced, +left his brother to repose. + +The unfortunate Schah-zenan retired to his couch; but if in the +presence of the sultan he had for a while forgotten his grief, it now +returned with doubled force. Every circumstance of the queen's death +arose to his mind and kept him awake, and left such a look of sorrow +on his face that next morning the sultan could not fail to notice it. +He did all in his power to show his continued love and affection, and +sought to amuse his brother with the most splendid entertainments, but +the gayest fetes served only to increase Schah-zenan's melancholy. + +One morning when Schah-riar had given orders for a grand hunting party +at the distance of two days' journey from the city, Schah-zenan +requested permission to remain in his palace on account of a slight +illness. The sultan, wishing to please him, consented, but he himself +went with all his court to partake of the sport. + +The King of Tartary was no sooner alone than he shut himself up in his +apartment, and gave way to his sorrow. But as he sat thus grieving at +the open window, looking out upon the beautiful garden of the palace, +he suddenly saw the sultana, the beloved wife of his brother, meet a +man in the garden with whom she held an affectionate conversation. +Upon witnessing this interview, Schah-zenan determined that he would +no longer give way to such inconsolable grief for a misfortune which +came to other husbands as well as to himself. He ordered supper to be +brought, and ate with a better appetite than he had before done since +leaving Samarcand. He even enjoyed the fine concert performed while he +sat at table. + +Schah-riar returned from the hunt at the close of the second day, and +was delighted at the change which he soon found had taken place in his +brother. He urged him to explain the cause of his former depression +and of his present joy. The King of Tartary, feeling it his duty to +obey his suzerain lord, related the story of his wife's misconduct, +and of the severe punishment which he had visited on her. Schah-riar +expressed his full approval of his brother's conduct. + +"I own," he said, "had I been in your place I should have been less +easily satisfied. I should not have been contented to take away the +life of one woman, but should have sacrificed a thousand to my +resentment. Your fate, surely, is most singular. Since, however, it +has pleased God to afford you consolation, which, I am sure, is as +well founded as was your grief, inform me, I beg, of that also." + +Schah-zenan was very reluctant to relate what he had seen, but at last +yielded to the urgent commands and entreaties of his brother, and told +him of the faithlessness of his own queen. + +At this unexpected news, the rage and grief of Schah-riar knew no +bounds. He far exceeded his brother in his invectives and indignation. +Not only did he sentence to death his unhappy sultana but bound +himself by a solemn vow that, immediately on the departure of the king +his brother, he would marry a new wife every night, and command her to +be strangled in the morning. Schah-zenan soon after had a solemn +audience of leave, and returned to his own kingdom, laden with the +most magnificent presents. + +When Schah-zenan was gone the sultan began to carry out his unhappy +oath. Every night he married the daughter of some one of his subjects, +and the next morning she was ordered out and put to death. It was the +duty of the grand vizier to execute these commands of the sultan's, +and revolting as they were to him, he was obliged to submit or lose +his own head. The report of this unexampled inhumanity spread a panic +of consternation throughout the city. Instead of the praises and +blessings with which, until now, they had loaded their monarch, all +his subjects poured out curses on his head. + +The grand vizier had two daughters, the elder of whom was called +Schehera-zade, and the younger Dinar-zade. Schehera-zade was possessed +of a remarkable degree of courage. She had read much, and had so good +a memory that she never forgot anything she had once read or heard. +Her beauty was equaled only by her virtuous disposition. The vizier +was passionately fond of her. + +One day as they were talking together, she made the astonishing +request that she might have the honor of becoming the sultan's bride. +The grand vizier was horrified, and tried to dissuade her. He pointed +out the fearful penalty attached to the favor she sought. +Schehera-zade, however, persisted, telling her father she had in mind +a plan which she thought might put a stop to the sultan's dreadful +cruelty. + +"I am aware of the danger I run, my father," she said, "but it does +not deter me from my purpose. If I die, my death will be glorious; if +I succeed, I shall render my country an important service." + +Still the vizier was most reluctant to allow his beloved child to +enter on so dangerous an enterprise, and attempted to turn her from +her purpose by telling her the following story: + + +THE FABLE OF THE ASS, THE OX, AND THE LABORER + +A very rich merchant had several farmhouses in the country, where he +bred every kind of cattle. This merchant understood the language of +beasts. He obtained this privilege on the condition of not imparting +to any one what he heard, under penalty of death. + +By chance[2] he had put an ox and an ass into the same stall; and +being seated near them, he heard the ox say to the ass: "How happy do +I think your lot. A servant looks after you with great care, washes +you, feeds you with fine sifted barley, and gives you fresh and clean +water; your greatest task is to carry the merchant, our master. My +condition is as unfortunate as yours is pleasant. They yoke me to a +plow the whole day, while the laborer urges me on with his goad. The +weight and force of the plow, too, chafes all the skin from my neck. +When I have worked from morning till night, they give me unwholesome +and uninviting food. Have I not, then, reason to envy your lot?" + +[Footnote 2: The ass and the ox in the East were subject to very +different treatment; the one was strong to labor, and was little cared +for--the other was reserved for princes and judges to ride on, and was +tended with the utmost attention.] + +When he had finished, the ass replied in these words: "Believe me, +they would not treat you thus if you possessed as much courage as +strength. When they come to tie you to the manger, what resistance, +pray, do you ever make? Do you ever push them with your horns? Do you +ever show your anger by stamping on the ground with your feet? Why +don't you terrify them with your bellowing? Nature has given you the +means of making yourself respected, and yet you neglect to use them. +They bring you bad beans and chaff. Well, do not eat them; smell at +them only and leave them. Thus, if you follow my plans, you will soon +perceive a change, which you will thank me for." + +The ox took the advice of the ass very kindly, and declared himself +much obliged to him. + +Early the next morning the laborer came for the ox, and yoked him to +the plow, and set him to work as usual. The latter, who had not +forgotten the advice he had received, was very unruly the whole day; +and at night, when the laborer attempted to fasten him to the stall, +he ran bellowing back, and put down his horns to strike him; in short, +he did exactly as the ass had advised him. + +On the next morning, when the man came, he found the manger still full +of beans and chaff, and the ox lying on the ground with his legs +stretched out, and making a strange groaning. The laborer thought him +very ill, and that it would be useless to take him to work; he, +therefore, immediately went and informed the merchant. + +The latter perceived that the bad advice of the ass had been followed; +and he told the laborer to go and take the ass instead of the ox, and +not fail to give him plenty of exercise. The man obeyed; and the ass +was obliged to drag the plow the whole day, which tired him the more +because he was unaccustomed to it; besides which, he was so beaten +that he could scarcely support himself when he came back, and fell +down in his stall half dead. + + * * * * * + +Here the grand vizier said to Schehera-zade: "You are, my child, just +like this ass, and would expose yourself to destruction." + +"Sir," replied Schehera-zade, "the example which you have brought does +not alter my resolution, and I shall not cease importuning you till +I have obtained from you the favor of presenting me to the sultan as +his consort." + +[Illustration: _He had the gift of understanding the language of +beasts Page 15_] + +The vizier, finding her persistent in her request, said, "Well then, +since you will remain thus obstinate, I shall be obliged to treat you +as the rich merchant I mentioned did his wife." + +Being told in what a miserable state the ass was, he was curious to +know what passed between him and the ox. After supper, therefore, he +went out by moonlight, accompanied by his wife, and sat down near +them; on his arrival, he heard the ass say to the ox, "Tell me, +brother, what you mean to do when the laborer brings you food +to-morrow!" + +"Mean to do!" replied the ox. "Why, what you taught me, to be sure." + +"Take care," interrupted the ass, "what you are about, lest you +destroy yourself; for in coming home yesterday evening, I heard our +master say these sad words: 'Since the ox can neither eat nor support +himself, I wish him to be killed to-morrow; do not, therefore, fail to +send for the butcher.' This is what I heard; and the interest I take +in your safety, and the friendship I have for you, induces me to +mention it. When they bring you beans and chaff, get up, and begin +eating directly. Our master, by this, will suppose that you have +recovered, and will, without doubt, revoke the sentence for your +death; in my opinion, if you act otherwise, it is all over with you." + +This speech produced the intended effect; the ox was much troubled, +and lowed with fear. The merchant, who had listened to everything with +great attention, burst into a fit of laughter that quite surprised +his wife. + +"Tell me," said she, "what you laugh at, that I may join in it. I wish +to know the cause." + +"That satisfaction," replied the husband, "I cannot afford you. I can +only tell you that I laughed at what the ass said to the ox; the rest +is a secret, which I must not reveal." + +"And why not?" asked his wife. + +"Because, if I tell you, it will cost me my life." + +"You trifle with me," added she; "this can never be true; and if you +do not immediately inform me what you laughed at, I swear by Allah +that we will live together no longer." + +In saying this, she went back to the house in a pet, shut herself up, +and cried the whole night. Her husband, finding that she continued in +the same state all the next day, said, "How foolish it is to afflict +yourself in this way! Do I not seriously tell you, that if I were to +yield to your foolish importunities, it would cost me my life?" + +"Whatever happens rests with Allah," said she; "but I shall not alter +my mind." + +"I see very plainly," answered the merchant, "it it not possible to +make you submit to reason, and that your obstinacy will kill you." + +He then sent for the parents and other relations of his wife; when +they were all assembled, he explained to them his motives for calling +them together, and requested them to use all their influence with his +wife, and endeavor to convince her of the folly of her conduct. She +rejected them all, and said she had rather die than give up this +point to her husband. When her children saw that nothing could alter +her resolution, they began to lament most bitterly--the merchant +himself knew not what to do. + +A little while afterward he was sitting by chance at the door of his +house, considering whether he should not even sacrifice himself in +order to save his wife, whom he so tenderly loved, when he saw his +favorite dog run up to the cock in the farmyard, and tell him all the +circumstances of the painful situation in which he was placed. Upon +which the cock said, "How foolish must our master be. He has but one +wife, and cannot gain his point, while I have fifty, and do just as I +please. Let him take a good-sized stick, and not scruple to use it, +and she will soon know better, and not worry him to reveal what he +ought to keep secret." + +The merchant at once did as he suggested, on which his wife quickly +repented of her ill-timed curiosity, and all her family came in, +heartily glad at finding her more rational and submissive to her +husband. + + * * * * * + +"You deserve, my daughter," added the grand vizier, "to be treated +like the merchant's wife." + +"Do not, sir," answered Schehera-zade, "think ill of me if I still +persist in my sentiments. The history of this woman does not shake my +resolution. I could recount, on the other hand, many good reasons +which ought to persuade you not to oppose my design. Pardon me, too, +if I add that your opposition will be useless; for if your paternal +tenderness should refuse the request I make, I will present myself to +the sultan." + +At length the vizier, overcome by his daughter's firmness, yielded to +her entreaties; and although he was very sorry at not being able to +conquer her resolution, he immediately went to Schah-riar, and +announced to him that Schehera-zade herself would be his bride on the +following night. + +The sultan was much astonished at the sacrifice of the grand vizier. +"Is it possible," said he, "that you can give up your own child?" + +"Sire," replied the vizier, "she has herself made the offer. The +dreadful fate that hangs over her does not alarm her; and she resigns +her life for the honor of being the consort of your majesty, though it +be but for one night." + +"Vizier," said the sultan, "do not deceive yourself with any hopes; +for be assured that, in delivering Schehera-zade into your charge +to-morrow, it will be with an order for her death; and if you disobey, +your own head will be the forfeit." + +"Although," answered the vizier, "I am her father, I will answer for +the fidelity of this arm in fulfilling your commands." + +When the grand vizier returned to Schehera-zade, she thanked her +father; and observing him to be much afflicted, consoled him by saying +that she hoped he would be so far from repenting her marriage with the +sultan that it would become a subject of joy to him for the remainder +of his life. + +Before Schehera-zade went to the palace, she called her sister, +Dinar-zade, aside, and said, "As soon as I shall have presented myself +before the sultan, I shall entreat him to suffer you to sleep in the +bridal chamber, that I may enjoy for the last time your company. If I +obtain this favor, as I expect, remember to awaken me to-morrow +morning an hour before daybreak, and say, 'If you are not asleep, my +sister, I beg of you, till the morning appears, to recount to me one +of those delightful stories you know.' I will immediately begin to +tell one; and I flatter myself that by these means I shall free the +kingdom from the consternation in which it is." + +Dinar-zade promised to do with pleasure what she required. + +Within a short time Schehera-zade was conducted by her father to the +palace, and was admitted to the presence of the sultan. They were no +sooner alone than the sultan ordered her to take off her veil. He was +charmed with her beauty; but perceiving her tears, he demanded the +cause of them. + +"Sire," answered Schehera-zade, "I have a sister whom I tenderly +love--I earnestly wish that she might be permitted to pass the night +in this apartment, that we may again see each other, and once more +take a tender farewell. Will you allow me the consolation of giving +her this last proof of my affection?" + +Schah-riar having agreed to it, they sent for Dinar-zade, who came +directly. The sultan passed the night with Schehera-zade on an +elevated couch, as was the custom among the eastern monarchs, and +Dinar-zade slept at the foot of it on a mattress prepared for the +purpose. + +Dinar-zade, having awakened about an hour before day, did what her +sister had ordered her. "My dear sister," she said, "if you are not +asleep, I entreat you, as it will soon be light, to relate to me one +of those delightful tales you know. It will, alas, be the last time I +shall receive that pleasure." + +Instead of returning any answer to her sister, Schehera-zade addressed +these words to the sultan: "Will your majesty permit me to indulge my +sister in her request?" + +"Freely," replied he. + +Schehera-zade then desired her sister to attend, and, addressing +herself to the sultan, began as follows: + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE + + +There was formerly, sire, a merchant, who was possessed of great +wealth, in land, merchandise, and ready money. Having one day an +affair of great importance to settle at a considerable distance from +home, he mounted his horse, and with only a sort of cloak-bag behind +him, in which he had put a few biscuits and dates, he began his +journey. He arrived without any accident at the place of his +destination; and having finished his business, set out on his return. + +On the fourth day of his journey he felt himself so incommoded by the +heat of the sun that he turned out of his road, in order to rest under +some trees by which there was a fountain. He alighted, and tying his +horse to a branch of the tree, sat down on its bank to eat some +biscuits and dates from his little store. When he had satisfied his +hunger he amused himself with throwing about the stones of the fruit +with considerable velocity. When he had finished his frugal repast he +washed his hands, his face, and his feet, and repeated a prayer, like +a good Mussulman.[3] + +He was still on his knees, when he saw a genie,[4] white with age and +of an enormous stature, advancing toward him, with a scimitar in his +hand. As soon as he was close to him he said in a most terrible tone: +"Get up, that I may kill thee with this scimitar, as thou hast caused +the death of my son." He accompanied these words with a dreadful yell. + +[Footnote 3: Mussulman signifies resigned, or "conformed to the divine +will." The Arabic word is Moslemuna, in the singular, Moslem; which +the Mohammedans take as a title peculiar to themselves. The Europeans +generally write and pronounce it Mussulman.--Sale's _Koran_, c. ii, p. +16. 4to, 1734.] + +[Footnote 4: These tales are furnished throughout with a certain +imaginary machinery. They have, as their foundation, the perpetual +intervention of certain fantastic beings, in most cases superior to +man, but yet subordinate to the authority of certain favored +individuals. These beings may, for our purpose, be generally divided +into genies, whose interference is generally for evil; peris, whose +presence indicates favorable issues to those whom they befriend; and +ghouls, monsters which have a less direct control over man's affairs, +but represent any monster repugnant or loathsome to mankind.] + +The merchant, alarmed by the horrible figure of this giant, as well as +by the words he heard, replied in trembling accents: "How can I have +slain him? I do not know him, nor have I ever seen him." + +"Didst thou not," replied the giant, "on thine arrival here, sit down, +and take some dates from thy wallet; and after eating them, didst thou +not throw the stones about on all sides?" + +"This is all true," replied the merchant; "I do not deny it." + +"Well, then," said the other, "I tell thee thou hast killed my son; +for while thou wast throwing about the stones, my son passed by; one +of them struck him in the eye, and caused his death,[5] and thus hast +thou slain my son." + +[Footnote 5: "Now this, at first sight, seems a singular, if not a +ridiculous thing; but even this has its foundation in an Eastern +custom. It is in this manner that prisoners are sometimes put to +death; a man sits down at a little distance from the object he intends +to destroy, and then attacks him by repeatedly shooting at him with +the stone of the date, thrown from his two forefingers, and in this +way puts an end to his life."--Preface to Forster's edition of +_Arabian Nights._] + +"Ah, sire, forgive me," cried the merchant. + +"I have neither forgiveness nor mercy," replied the giant; "and is it +not just that he who has inflicted death should suffer it?" + +"I grant this; yet surely I have not done so: and even if I have, I +have done so innocently, and therefore I entreat you to pardon me, and +suffer me to live." + +"No, no," cried the genie, still persisting in his resolution, "I must +destroy thee, as thou hast killed my son." + +At these words, he took the merchant in his arms, and having thrown +him with his face on the ground, he lifted up his saber, in order to +strike off his head. + + * * * * * + +Schehera-zade, at this instant perceiving it was day, and knowing that +the sultan rose early to his prayers,[6] and then to hold a council, +broke off. + +[Footnote 6: "The Mohammedans divide their religion into two +parts--Imana, faith; and Din, practice. The first is the confession, +'There is no God but the true God, and Mohammed is his prophet.' Under +this are comprehended six distinct tenets,--1. Belief in God; 2. In +His anger; 3. In His scriptures; 4. In His prophets; 5. In the +resurrection and day of judgment; 6. God's absolute decree and +predetermination of all events, good or evil. The points of practice +are,--1. Prayer and purification; 2. Alms; 3. Fasting; 4. Pilgrimage +to Mecca."--Sale's _Preliminary Discourse_, p. 171.] + +"What a wonderful story," said Dinar-zade, "have you chosen!" + +"The conclusion," observed Schehera-zade, "is still more surprising, +as you would confess if the sultan would suffer me to live another +day, and in the morning permit me to continue the relation." + +Schah-riar, who had listened with much pleasure to the narration, +determined to wait till to-morrow, intending to order her execution +after she had finished her story. + +He arose, and having prayed, went to the council. + +The grand vizier, in the meantime, was in a state of cruel suspense. +Unable to sleep, he passed the night in lamenting the approaching fate +of his daughter, whose executioner he was compelled to be. Dreading, +therefore, in this melancholy situation, to meet the sultan, how +great was his surprise in seeing him enter the council chamber without +giving him the horrible order he expected! + +The sultan spent the day, as usual, in regulating the affairs of his +kingdom, and on the approach of night, retired with Schehera-zade to +his apartment.[7] + +[Footnote 7: In the original work, Schehera-zade continually breaks +off to ask the sultan to spare her life for another day, that she may +finish the story on which she is engaged, and he as regularly grants +her request. These interruptions are omitted as interfering with the +continued interest of the numerous stories told by the patriotic +Schehera-zade.] + +On the next morning, the sultan did not wait for Schehera-zade to ask +permission to continue her story, but said, "Finish the tale of the +genie and the merchant. I am curious to hear the end of it." +Schehera-zade immediately went on as follows: + +When the merchant, sire, perceived that the genie was about to execute +his purpose, he cried aloud: "One word more, I entreat you; have the +goodness to grant me a little delay; give me only one year to go and +take leave of my dear wife and children, and I promise to return to +this spot, and submit myself entirely to your pleasure." + +"Take Allah to witness of the promise thou hast made me," said the +other. + +"Again I swear," replied he, "and you may rely on my oath." + +On this the genie left him near the fountain, and immediately +disappeared. + +The merchant, on his reaching home, related faithfully all that had +happened to him. On hearing the sad news, his wife uttered the most +lamentable groans, tearing her hair and beating her breast; and his +children made the house resound with their grief. The father, +overcome by affection, mingled his tears with theirs. + +The year quickly passed. The good merchant having settled his affairs, +paid his just debts, given alms to the poor, and made provision to the +best of his ability for his wife and family, tore himself away amid +the most frantic expressions of grief; and mindful of his oath, he +arrived at the destined spot on the very day he had promised. + +While he was waiting for the arrival of the genie, there suddenly +appeared an old man leading a hind, who, after a respectful +salutation, inquired what brought him to that desert place. The +merchant satisfied the old man's curiosity, and related his adventure, +on which he expressed a wish to witness his interview with the genie. +He had scarcely finished his speech when another old man, accompanied +by two black dogs, came in sight, and having heard the tale of the +merchant, he also determined to remain to see the event. + +Soon they perceived, toward the plain, a thick vapor or smoke, like a +column of dust raised by the wind. This vapor approached them, and +then suddenly disappearing, they saw the genie, who, without noticing +the others, went toward the merchant, scimitar in hand. Taking him by +the arm, "Get up," said he, "that I may kill thee, as thou hast slain +my son." + +Both the merchant and the two old men, struck with terror, began to +weep and fill the air with their lamentations. + +When the old man who conducted the hind saw the genie lay hold of the +merchant, and about to murder him without mercy, he threw himself at +the monster's feet, and, kissing them, said, "Lord Genie, I humbly +entreat you to suspend your rage, and hear my history, and that of the +hind, which you see; and if you find it more wonderful and surprising +than the adventure of this merchant, whose life you wish to take, may +I not hope that you will at least grant me one half part the blood of +this unfortunate man?" + +After meditating some time, the genie answered, "Well then, I agree to +it." + + +THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST OLD MAN AND THE HIND + +The hind, whom you, Lord Genie, see here, is my wife. I married her +when she was twelve years old, and we lived together thirty years, +without having any children. At the end of that time I adopted into my +family a son, whom a slave had borne. This act of mine excited against +the mother and her child the hatred and jealousy of my wife. During my +absence on a journey she availed herself of her knowledge of magic to +change the slave and my adopted son into a cow and a calf, and sent +them to my farm to be fed and taken care of by the steward. + +Immediately on my return I inquired after my child and his mother. + +"Your slave is dead," said she, "and it is now more than two months +since I have beheld your son; nor do I know what has become of him." + +I was sensibly affected at the death of the slave; but as my son had +only disappeared, I flattered myself that he would soon be found. +Eight months, however, passed, and he did not return; nor could I +learn any tidings of him. In order to celebrate the festival of the +great Bairam,[8] which was approaching, I ordered my bailiff to bring +me the fattest cow I possessed, for a sacrifice. He obeyed my +commands. Having bound the cow, I was about to make the sacrifice, +when at the very instant she lowed most sorrowfully, and the tears +even fell from her eyes. This seemed to me so extraordinary that I +could not but feel compassion for her, and was unable to give the +fatal blow. I therefore ordered her to be taken away, and another +brought. + +[Footnote 8: Bairam, a Turkish word, signifies a feast day or holiday. +It commences on the close of the Ramadan--or the month's fast of the +Mohammedans. At this feast they kill a calf, goat, or sheep; and after +giving a part to the poor, eat the rest with their friends. It +commences with the new moon, and is supposed to be instituted in +memory of the sacrifice of his son by Abraham. The observance of the +lesser Bairam is confined to Mecca.] + +My wife, who was present, seemed very angry at my compassion, and +opposed my order. + +I then said to my steward, "Make the sacrifice yourself; the +lamentations and tears of the animal have overcome me." + +The steward was less compassionate, and sacrificed her. On taking off +the skin we found hardly anything but bones, though she appeared very +fat. + +"Take her away," said I to the steward, truly chagrined, "and if you +have a very fat calf, bring it in her place." + +He returned with a remarkably fine calf, who, as soon as he perceived +me, made so great an effort to come to me that he broke his cord. He +lay down at my feet, with his head on the ground, as if he endeavored +to excite my compassion, and to entreat me not to have the cruelty to +take away his life. + +"Wife," said I, "I will not sacrifice this calf, I wish to favor him. +Do not you, therefore, oppose it." + +She, however, did not agree to my proposal; and continued to demand +his sacrifice so obstinately that I was compelled to yield. I bound +the calf, and took the fatal knife to bury it in his throat, when he +turned his eyes, filled with tears, so persuasively upon me, that I +had no power to execute my intention. The knife fell from my hand, and +I told my wife I was determined to have another calf. She tried every +means to induce me to alter my mind; I continued firm, however, in my +resolution, in spite of all she could say; promising, for the sake of +appeasing her, to sacrifice this calf at the feast of Bairam on the +following year. + +The next morning my steward desired to speak with me in private. He +informed me that his daughter, who had some knowledge of magic, wished +to speak with me. On being admitted to my presence, she informed me +that during my absence my wife had turned the slave and my son into a +cow and calf, that I had already sacrificed the cow, but that she +could restore my son to life if I would give him to her for her +husband, and allow her to visit my wife with the punishment her +cruelty had deserved. To these proposals I gave my consent. + +The damsel then took a vessel full of water, and pronouncing over it +some words I did not understand, she threw the water over the calf, +and he instantly regained his own form. + +"My son! My son!" I exclaimed, and embraced him with transport. "This +damsel has destroyed the horrible charm with which you were +surrounded. I am sure your gratitude will induce you to marry her, as +I have already promised for you." + +He joyfully consented; but before they were united the damsel changed +my wife into this hind, which you see here. + +Since this, my son has become a widower, and is now traveling. Many +years have passed since I have heard anything of him. I have, +therefore, now set out with a view to gain some information; and as I +did not like to trust my wife to the care of any one during my search, +I thought proper to carry her along with me. This is the history of +myself and this hind. Can anything be more wonderful? + +"I agree with you," said the genie, "and in consequence, I grant to +you a half of the blood of this merchant." + +As soon as the first old man had finished, the second, who led the two +black dogs, made the same request to the genie for a half of the +merchant's blood, on the condition that his tale exceeded in interest +the one that had just been related. On the genie signifying his +assent, the old man began. + + +THE HISTORY OF THE SECOND OLD MAN AND THE TWO BLACK DOGS + +Great Prince of the genies, you must know that these two black dogs, +which you see here, and myself, are three brothers. Our father, when +he died, left us one thousand sequins each. With this sum we all +embarked in business as merchants. My two brothers determined to +travel, that they might trade in foreign parts. They were both +unfortunate, and returned at the end of two years in a state of abject +poverty, having lost their all. I had in the meanwhile prospered. I +gladly received them, and gave them one thousand sequins each, and +again set them up as merchants. + +My brothers frequently proposed to me that I should make a voyage with +them for the purpose of traffic. Knowing their former want of success, +I refused to join them, until at the end of five years I at length +yielded to their repeated solicitations. On consulting on the +merchandise to be bought for the voyage, I discovered that nothing +remained of the thousand sequins I had given to each. I did not +reproach them; on the contrary, as my capital was increased to six +thousand sequins, I gave them each one thousand sequins, and kept a +like sum myself, concealing the other three thousand in a corner of my +house, in order that if our voyage proved unsuccessful we might be +able to console ourselves and begin our former profession. + +We purchased our goods, embarked in a vessel, which we ourselves +freighted, and set sail with a favorable wind. After sailing about a +month, we arrived, without any accident, at a port, where we landed, +and had a most advantageous sale for our merchandise. I, in +particular, sold mine so well that I gained ten for one. + +About the time that we were ready to embark on our return, I +accidentally met on the seashore a female of great beauty, but very +poorly dressed. She accosted me by kissing my hand, and entreated me +most earnestly to permit her to be my wife. I stated many difficulties +to such a plan; but at length she said so much to persuade me that I +ought not to regard her poverty, and that I should be well satisfied +with her conduct, I was quite overcome. I directly procured proper +dresses for her, and after marrying her in due form, she embarked +with me, and we set sail. + +During our voyage I found my wife possessed of so many good qualities +that I loved her every day more and more. In the meantime my two +brothers, who had not traded so advantageously as myself, and who were +jealous of my prosperity, began to feel exceedingly envious. They even +went so far as to conspire against my life; for one night, while my +wife and I were asleep, they threw us into the sea. I had hardly, +however, fallen into the water, before my wife took me up and +transported me to an island. As soon as it was day she thus addressed +me: + +"You must know that I am a fairy, and being upon the shore when you +were about to sail, I wished to try the goodness of your heart, and +for this purpose I presented myself before you in the disguise you +saw. You acted most generously, and I am therefore delighted in +finding an occasion of showing my gratitude, and I trust, my husband, +that in saving your life I have not ill rewarded the good you have +done me. But I am enraged against your brothers, nor shall I be +satisfied till I have taken their lives." + +I listened with astonishment to the discourse of the fairy, and +thanked her, as well as I was able, for the great obligation she had +conferred on me. + +"But, madam," said I to her, "I must entreat you to pardon my +brothers." + +I related to her what I had done for each of them, but my account only +increased her anger. + +"I must instantly fly after these ungrateful wretches," cried she, +"and bring them to a just punishment; I will sink their vessel, and +precipitate them to the bottom of the sea." + +"No, beautiful lady," replied I, "for heaven's sake moderate your +indignation, and do not execute so dreadful an intention; remember, +they are still my brothers, and that we are bound to return good for +evil." + +No sooner had I pronounced these words, than I was transported in an +instant from the island, where we were, to the top of my own house. I +descended, opened the doors, and dug up the three thousand sequins +which I had hidden. I afterward repaired to my shop, opened it, and +received the congratulations of the merchants in the neighborhood on +my arrival. When I returned home I perceived these two black dogs, +which came toward me with a submissive air. I could not imagine what +this meant, but the fairy, who soon appeared, satisfied my curiosity. + +"My dear husband," said she, "be not surprised at seeing these two +dogs in your house; they are your brothers." + +My blood ran cold on hearing this, and I inquired by what power they +had been transformed into that state. + +"It is I," replied the fairy, "who have done it, and I have sunk their +ship; for the loss of the merchandise it contained I shall recompense +you. As to your brothers, I have condemned them to remain under this +form for ten years, as a punishment for their perfidy." + +Then informing me where I might hear of her, she disappeared. + +The ten years are now completed, and I am traveling in search of her. +This, O Lord Genie, is my history; does it not appear to you of a +most extraordinary nature? + +"Yes," replied the genie, "I confess it is most wonderful, and +therefore I grant you the other half of this merchant's blood," and +having said this, the genie disappeared, to the great joy of the +merchant and of the two old men. + +The merchant did not omit to bestow many thanks upon his liberators, +who, bidding him adieu, proceeded on their travels. He remounted his +horse, returned home to his wife and children, and spent the remainder +of his days with them in tranquillity. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE THREE CALENDERS, SONS OF KINGS, AND THE FIVE LADIES OF BAGDAD + + +In the reign of Caliph Haroun al Raschid there was at Bagdad a porter, +who was a fellow of infinite wit and humor. One morning as he was at +the place where he usually waited for employment, with a great basket +before him, a handsome lady, covered with a great muslin veil, +accosted him, and said with a pleasant air, "Hark you, porter, take +your basket[9] and follow me." + +[Footnote 9: Baskets, panniers made of leaves of palm, used in +conveying fruits and bread, while heavier articles are carried in bags +of leather or skin.] + +The delighted porter took his basket immediately, set it on his head, +and followed the lady, exclaiming, "Oh, happy day! Oh, day of good +luck!" + +In a short time the lady stopped before a gate and knocked: a +Christian, with a venerable long white beard, opened it, and she put +money into his hand without speaking; but the Christian, who knew what +she wanted, went in, and shortly after brought out a large jar of +excellent wine. + +"Take this jar," said the lady to the porter, "and put it into the +basket." + +This being done, she desired him to follow her, and walked on; the +porter still exclaiming, "Oh, day of happiness! Oh, day of agreeable +surprise and joy!" + +The lady stopped at a fruit shop, where she bought some apples, +apricots, peaches, lemons, citrons, oranges, myrtles, sweet basil, +lilies, jassamine, and some other plants. She told the porter to put +all those things into his basket and follow her. Passing by a +butcher's shop, she ordered five and twenty pounds of his finest meat +to be weighed, which was also put into the porter's basket. + +At another shop she bought capers, small cucumbers, parsley, and other +herbs; at another, some pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, +kernels of the pine, and other similar fruits; at a third, she +purchased all sorts of almond patties. + +The porter, in putting all these things into his basket, said, "My +good lady, you should have told me that you intended buying so many +things, and I would have provided a camel to carry them, for if you +buy ever so little more, I shall not be able to bear it." + +The lady laughed at the fellow's pleasant humor, and ordered him still +to follow her. + +She then went to a druggist's, where she furnished herself with all +manner of sweet-scented waters, cloves, musk, pepper, ginger, and a +great piece of ambergris, and several other Indian spices; this quite +filled the porter's basket and she ordered him to follow her. They +walked till they came to a magnificent house, whose front was adorned +with fine columns, and had a gate of ivory. There they stopped, and +the lady knocked softly. Another lady soon came to open the gate, and +all three, after passing through a handsome vestibule, crossed a +spacious court, surrounded by an open gallery which communicated with +many magnificent apartments, all on the same floor. At the end of this +court there was a dais richly furnished, with a couch in the middle, +supported by four columns of ebony, enriched with diamonds and pearls +of an extraordinary size, and covered with red satin, relieved by a +bordering of Indian gold. In the middle of the court there was a large +basin lined with white marble, and full of the finest transparent +water, which rushed from the mouth of a lion of gilt bronze. + +But what principally attracted the attention of the porter, was a +third most beautiful lady, who was seated on the couch before +mentioned. This lady was called Zobeide, she who opened the door was +called Safie, and the name of the one who had been for the provisions +was Amina. Then said Zobeide, accosting the other two, "Sisters, do +you not see that this honest man is ready to sink under his burden? +Why do you not ease him of it?" + +Then Amina and Safie took the basket, the one before and the other +behind; Zobeide also assisted, and all three together set it on the +ground, and then emptied it. When they had done, the beautiful Amina +took out money and paid the porter liberally. + +The porter was well satisfied, but when he ought to have departed he +was chained to the spot by the pleasure of beholding three such +beauties, who appeared to him equally charming; for Amina, having now +laid aside her veil, proved to be as handsome as either of the others. +What surprised him most was that he saw no man about the house, yet +most of the provisions he had brought in, as the dry fruits and the +several sorts of cakes and confections, were adapted chiefly for those +who could drink and make merry. + +"Madam," said he, addressing Zobeide, "I am sensible that I act rudely +in staying longer than I ought, but I hope you will have the goodness +to pardon me, when I tell you that I am astonished not to see a man +with three ladies of such extraordinary beauty; and you know that a +company of women without men is as melancholy as a company of men +without women." + +To this he added some pleasantries in proof of what he advanced; and +did not forget the Bagdad proverb, "That the table is not completely +furnished, except there be four in company"; so concluded, that since +they were but three, they wanted another. + +The ladies fell a-laughing at the porter's reasoning; after which +Zobeide gravely addressed him, "Friend, you presume rather too much; +and though you do not deserve it, I have no objection to inform you +that we are three sisters, who transact our affairs with so much +secrecy that no one knows anything of them. A good author says, 'Keep +thy own secret, and do not reveal it to any one. He that maketh his +secret known is no longer its master. If thy own breast cannot keep +thy counsel, how canst thou expect the breast of another to be more +faithful?'" + +"Permit me, I entreat thee, to say, that I also have read in another a +maxim, which I have always happily practiced: 'Conceal thy secret,' he +says, 'only from such as are known to be indiscreet, and who will +abuse thy confidence; but make no difficulty in discovering it to +prudent men, because they know how to keep it.' The secret, then, with +me, is as safe as if locked up in a cabinet, the key of which is lost +and the door sealed." + +The porter, notwithstanding his rhetoric, must, in all probability, +have retired in confusion if Amina had not taken his part, and said to +Zobeide and Safie, "My dear sisters, I conjure you to let him remain; +he will afford us some diversion. Were I to repeat to you all the +amusing things he addressed to me by the way, you would not feel +surprised at my taking his part." + +At these words of Amina the porter fell on his knees, kissed the +ground at her feet, and raising himself up, said, "Most beautiful +lady, you began my good fortune to-day, and now you complete it by +this generous conduct. I cannot adequately express my acknowledgments. +As to the rest, ladies," said he, addressing himself to all the three +sisters, "since you do me so great an honor, I shall always look upon +myself as one of your most humble slaves." + +When he had spoken these words he would have returned the money he had +received, but Zobeide ordered him to keep it. + +"What we have once given," said she, "we never take back. We are +willing, too, to allow you to stay on one condition, that you keep +secret and do not ask the reason for anything you may see us do. To +show you," said Zobeide, with a serious countenance, "that what we +demand of you is not a new thing among us, read what is written over +our gate on the inside." + +The porter read these words, written in large characters of gold: "He +who speaks of things that do not concern him, shall hear things that +will not please him." + +"Ladies," said he, "I swear to you that you shall never hear me utter +a word respecting what does not relate to me, or wherein you may have +any concern." + +These preliminaries being settled, Amina brought in supper, and after +she had lighted up the room with tapers made of aloewood and +ambergris, which yield a most agreeable perfume as well as a delicate +light, she sat down with her sisters and the porter. They began +again to eat and drink, to sing, and repeat verses. The ladies +diverted themselves by intoxicating the porter, under pretext of +making him drink their healths, and the repast was enlivened by +reciprocal sallies of wit. When they were all as merry as possible, +they suddenly heard a knocking at the gate. + +[Illustration: _He was chained to the spot by the pleasure of +beholding three such beauties Page 38_] + +Safie, whose office it was, went to the porch, and quickly returning, +told them thus: "There are three calenders[10] at the door, all blind +of the right eye, and have their heads, beards, and eyebrows shaved. +They say that they are only just arrived at Bagdad, where they have +never been before; and, as it is dark, and they know not where to +lodge, they knocked at our door by chance and pray us to show +compassion, and to take them in. They care not where we put them, +provided they obtain shelter. They are young and handsome; but I +cannot, without laughing, think of their amusing and exact likeness to +each other. My dear sisters, pray permit them to come in; they will +afford us diversion enough, and put us to little charge, because they +desire shelter only for this night, and resolve to leave us as soon as +day appears." + +[Footnote 10: Calender, a sort of privileged beggar or fakir among the +Mohammedans, who wore a dress of sheepskin, with a leathern girdle +about his loins, and collected alms. A dervish is a poor man, who is +not bound by any vow of poverty to abstain from meat, and may +relinquish his profession at will.] + +"Go, then," said Zobeide, "and bring them in, but make them read what +is written over the gate." Safie ran out with joy, and in a little +time after returned with the three calenders. + +At their entrance they made a profound obeisance to the ladies, who +rose up to receive them and told them courteously that they were +welcome, that they were glad of the opportunity to oblige them and to +contribute toward relieving the fatigues of their journey, and at last +invited them to sit down with them. + +The magnificence of the place, and the civility they received, +inspired the calenders with high respect for the ladies; but before +they sat down, having by chance cast their eyes upon the porter, whom +they saw clad almost like those devotees with whom they have continual +disputes respecting several points of discipline, because they never +shave their beards nor eyebrows,[11] one of them said, "I believe we +have got here one of our revolted Arabian brethren." + +The porter, having his head warm with wine, took offense at these +words, and with a fierce look, without stirring from his place, +answered, "Sit you down, and do not meddle with what does not concern +you. Have you not read the inscription over the gate? Do not pretend +to make people live after your fashion, but follow ours." + +"Honest man," said the calender, "do not put yourself in a passion. We +should be sorry to give you the least occasion. On the contrary, we +are ready to receive your commands." Upon which, to put an end to the +dispute, the ladies interposed, and pacified them. When the calenders +were seated, the ladies served them with meat; and Safie, being highly +pleased with them, did not let them want for wine. + +[Footnote 11: This may probably be an allusion to the two great +divisions prevailing among the Mohammedans, the Soonnis and the +Shiites. The former upheld the legitimacy of the three first +successions of Mohammed; the latter maintained the right of his cousin +and son-in-law, Ali, and his descendants, called Fatemites or +Ismaelites. They both received the Koran, but the one added to it the +Sonna, or certain oral traditions attributed to Mohammed, which the +other rejected.] + +When the calenders had finished their repast, they signified to the +ladies that they wished to entertain them with a concert of music, if +they had any instruments in the house, and would cause them to be +brought. The ladies willingly accepted the proposal, and Safie went to +fetch the instruments. Each man took the instrument he liked, and all +three together began to play a tune. The ladies, who knew the words of +a merry song that suited the air, joined the concert with their +voices; but the words of the song made them now and then stop, and +fall into excessive laughter. While their amusement was at its height, +there was a knock of unwonted loudness at their gate. + +Now, it was the custom of the sultan Haroun al Raschid sometimes +during the night to go through the city in disguise, in order to +discover whether everything was quiet. On this evening he set out from +his palace accompanied by Giafar, his grand vizier, and Mesrour, chief +of the household, all three disguised as merchants. He it was, who, in +passing through the street, was attracted by the noise of the music +and of the peals of loud laughter, and had desired his grand vizier to +knock at the gate, and to demand shelter and admittance as for three +strangers who knew not where to seek shelter for the night. Safie, who +had opened the door, came back and obtained permission of her sisters +to admit the newly arrived strangers. + +The caliph and his attendants, upon their entrance, most courteously +made obeisance to the ladies and to the calenders. The ladies returned +their salutations, supposing them to be merchants. Zobeide, as the +chief, addressed them with a grave and serious countenance and said, +"You are welcome. But while you are here you must have eyes but no +tongues; you must not ask the reason of anything you may see, nor +speak of anything that does not concern you, lest you hear and see +what will by no means please you." + +"Madam," replied the vizier, "you shall be obeyed. It is enough for us +to attend to our own business, without meddling with what does not +concern us." After this, each seated himself, and the conversation +became general, and they drank to the health of the new guests. + +While the vizier Giafar entertained them, the caliph ceased not from +admiring the beauty, elegance, and lively disposition of the ladies; +while the appearance of the three calenders, all blind of the right +eye, surprised him very much. He anxiously wished to learn the cause +of this singularity, but the conditions they had imposed upon him and +his companions prevented any inquiry. Besides all this, when he +reflected upon the richness of the services and furniture, with the +regularity and arrangement everywhere apparent, he could hardly +persuade himself it was not the effect of enchantment. + +The guests continued their conversation, when, after an interval, +Zobeide rose up, and taking Amina by the hand, said to her, "Come, +sister, the company shall not prevent us from doing as we have always +been accustomed." + +Amina, who perfectly understood what her sister meant, got up, and +took away the dishes, tables, bottles, glasses, and also the +instruments on which the calenders had played. Nor did Safie remain +idle; she snuffed the candles, and added more aloewood and ambergris. +Having done this, she requested the three calenders to sit on a sofa +on one side, and the caliph and his company on the other. + +"Get up," said she then to the porter, looking at him, "and be ready +to assist in whatever we want of you." + +A little while after, Amina came in with a sort of seat, which she +placed in the middle of the room. She then went to the door of a +closet, and having opened it, she made a sign to the porter to +approach. + +"Come and assist me," she cried. He did so, and went in with her, and +returned a moment after, followed by two black dogs, each of them +secured by a collar and chain. They appeared as if they had been +severely whipped with rods, and he brought them into the middle of the +apartment. + +Zobeide, rising from her seat between the calenders and the caliph, +moved very gravely toward the porter. + +"Come," said she, heaving a deep sigh, "let us perform our duty." + +She then tucked up her sleeves above her elbows, and receiving a rod +from Safie, "Porter," said she, "deliver one of the dogs to my sister +Amina, and bring the other to me." + +The porter did as he was commanded. Upon this, the dog that he held in +his hand began to howl, and, turning toward Zobeide, held her head up +in a supplicating posture; but Zobeide, having no regard to the sad +countenance of the animal, which would have moved any one else to +pity, nor to its cries that resounded through the house, whipped her +with the rod till she was out of breath; and having spent her +strength, threw down the rod, and taking the chain from the porter, +lifted up the dog by her paws, and looking upon her with a sad and +pitiful countenance, they both wept. After this Zobeide, with her +handkerchief, wiped the tears from the dog's eyes, kissed her, +returned the chain to the porter, and desired him to carry the dog to +the place whence he took her, and to bring the other. Then taking the +whip, she served this in the same manner; she then wept with it, dried +its tears, kissed it, and returned it to the porter. + +The three calenders, with the caliph and his companions, were +extremely surprised at this exhibition, and could not comprehend why +Zobeide, after having so furiously beaten those two dogs, that by the +Mussulman religion are reckoned unclean[12] animals, should weep with +them, wipe off their tears, and kiss them. They muttered among +themselves; and the caliph, who, being more impatient than the rest, +longed exceedingly to be informed of the cause of so strange a +proceeding, could not forbear making signs to the vizier to ask the +question. The vizier turned his head another way; but being pressed by +repeated signs, he answered by others, that it was not yet time for +the caliph to satisfy his curiosity. + +[Footnote 12: The dog is in great disrepute among the Mohammedans. +Mohammed is reported to have said, "No angel enters where a dog is." +Cats, on the contrary, are great favorites, and sometimes accompany +their masters when they go to their mosque. The Mohammedans are under +certain restrictions in food; they are forbidden to eat the hare, +wolf, the cat, and all animals forbidden by the law of Moses. The +shrimp is forbidden among fish.--Bernard Picard.] + +Zobeide sat still some time in the middle of the room, where she had +whipped the two dogs, to recover herself of her fatigue; and Safie +called to her, "Dear sister, will you not be pleased to return to your +place, that I may also act my part?" + +"Yes, sister," replied Zobeide, and then went and sat down upon the +sofa, having the caliph, Giafar, and Mesrour on her right hand, and +the three calenders, with the porter, on her left. + +The whole company remained silent for some time. At last Safie, +sitting on a chair in the middle of the room, spoke to her sister +Amina: "Dear sister, I conjure you to rise; you know what I would +say." Amina rose, and went into another closet near to that where the +dogs were, and brought out a case covered with yellow satin, richly +embroidered with gold and green silk. She went toward Safie and opened +the case, from whence she took a lute, and presented it to her; and +after some time spent in tuning it, Safie began to play, and, +accompanying the instrument with her voice, sang a song about the +torments that absence creates to lovers. + +Having sung with much passion and action, she said to Amina, "Pray +take it, sister, for my voice fails me; oblige the company with a tune +and a song in my stead." + +"Very willingly," replied Amina, who, taking the lute from her sister +Safie, sat down in her place. Having sung most delightfully, the +caliph expressed his admiration. While he was doing so, Amina fainted +away; and on opening her robe to give her air, they discovered that +her breast was covered with fearful scars. + +While Zobeide and Safie ran to assist their sister, the caliph +inquired of the calender, "Cannot you inform me about these two black +dogs, and this lady, who appears to have been so ill-treated?" + +"Sir," said the calender, "we never were in this house before now, and +entered it only a few minutes sooner than you did." + +This increased the astonishment of the caliph. "Perhaps," said he, +"the man who is with you can give you some information?" + +The calender made signs to the porter to draw near, and asked him if +he knew why the black dogs had been beaten, and why the bosom of Amina +was so scarred. + +"Sir," replied the porter, "if you know nothing of the matter, I know +as little as you do. I never was in the house until now; and if you +are surprised to see me here, I am as much so to find myself in your +company." + +The caliph, more and more perplexed at all he heard, determined that +he would have the information he required for the explaining these +mysterious proceedings. But the question was, who should first make +the inquiry? The caliph endeavored to persuade the calenders to speak +first, but they excused themselves. At last they all agreed that the +porter should be the man. + +While they were consulting how to put the question, Zobeide herself, +as Amina had recovered from her fainting, approached them, and +inquired, "What are you talking of? What is your contest about?" + +The porter then addressed her as follows: "These gentlemen, madam, +entreat you to explain why you wept with those dogs, after having +treated them so ill, and how it has happened that the lady who fainted +has her bosom covered with scars." + +At these words Zobeide put on a stern look, and turning toward the +caliph and the rest of the company: "Is it true, gentlemen," said she, +"that you desired him to ask me these questions?" + +All of them, except the vizier Giafar, who spoke not a word, answered +"Yes." She thereupon exclaimed, in a tone of resentment: "Before we +granted you the favor of receiving you into our house, and to prevent +all occasion of inquiry from you, we imposed the condition that you +should not speak of anything that did not concern you, lest you might +hear that which would not please you; and yet, after having received +our entertainment, you make no scruple to break your promise. Our easy +compliance with your wishes may have occasioned this, but that shall +not excuse your rudeness." + +As she spoke these words, she gave three stamps with her foot, and +clapping[13] her hands as often together, cried, "Come quickly!" + +Upon this a door flew open, and seven black slaves[14] rushed in; each +one seized a man, threw him to the ground, and dragged him into the +middle of the room, brandishing a scimitar over his head. + +[Footnote 13: This is the ordinary mode in the East of calling the +attendants in waiting.] + +[Footnote 14: In this manner the apartments of ladies were constantly +guarded.--Beckford's _Vathek_, Notes to p. 204.] + +We can easily conceive the alarm of the caliph. He repented, but too +late, that he had not taken the advice of his vizier, who, with +Mesrour, the calenders, and porter, were, from his ill-timed +curiosity, on the point of forfeiting their lives. + +Before they gave the fatal stroke, one of the slaves said to Zobeide +and her sisters, "Would it not be right to interrogate them first?" On +which Zobeide, with a grave voice, said: "Answer me, and say who you +are, otherwise you shall not live one moment longer. I cannot believe +you to be honest men, or persons of authority or distinction in your +own countries; for, if you were, you would have been more modest and +more respectful to us." + +The caliph, naturally warm, was infinitely more indignant than the +rest, to find his life depending upon the command of a woman: but he +began to conceive some hopes, when he found she wished to know who +they all were; for he imagined that she would by no means take away +his life when she should be informed of his rank. He whispered to his +vizier, who was near him, instantly to declare who he was. But this +wise vizier, being more prudent, resolved to save his master's honor, +and not let the world know the affront he had brought upon himself by +his own imprudence; and therefore answered, "We have what we deserve." + +But if he had intended to speak as the caliph commanded him, Zobeide +would not have allowed him time: for having turned to the calenders, +and seeing them all blind with one eye, she asked if they were +brothers. + +One of them answered, "No, madam, no otherwise than as we are +calenders; that is to say, as we observe the same rules." + +"Were you born blind of the right eye?" continued she. + +"No, madam," answered he; "I lost my eye in such a surprising +adventure, that it would be instructive to every one to hear it." + +Zobeide put the same question to the others in their turn, when the +last she addressed replied, "Pray, madam, show some pity on us, for we +are all the sons of kings. Although we have never seen each other +before this evening, we have had sufficient time to become acquainted +with this circumstance; and I can assure you that the kings who have +given us birth have made some noise in the world!" During this speech +Zobeide became less angry, and said to the slaves, "Give them their +liberty a while, but remain where you are. Those who tell us their +history, and the occasion of their coming, do them not hurt, let them +go where they please; but do not spare those who refuse to give us +that satisfaction." + +The three calenders, the caliph, the grand vizier Giafar, the captain +of his guards, and the porter were all in the middle of the hall, +seated upon a carpet in the presence of the three ladies, who reclined +upon a sofa, and the slaves stood ready to do whatever their +mistresses should command. + +The porter spoke first, and briefly related the adventures of the +morning with Amina, and the kind favors to him of herself and her fair +sisters in the evening, which he declared to be the whole of his +history. + +When the porter had concluded, Zobeide said, "Save thyself and begone, +nor ever let us see thee again." + +"I beg of you, madam," replied he, "to let me remain a little longer. +It would be unfair that I should not hear their histories, after they +have had the pleasure of hearing mine." + +Saying this, he took his place at the end of the sofa, truly delighted +at finding himself free from the danger which so much alarmed him. + +One of the calenders, addressing himself to Zobeide, next spoke. + + +THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST CALENDER + +Madam, I am the son of a sultan. My father had a brother, who reigned +over a neighboring kingdom. His son, my cousin, and I were nearly of +the same age. I went regularly every year to see my uncle, at whose +court I amused myself for a month or two, and then returned home. + +On one occasion I arrived at my father's capital, where, contrary to +custom, I found a numerous guard at the gate of the palace. They +surrounded me as I entered. The commanding officer said, "Prince, the +army has proclaimed the grand vizier sultan, instead of your father, +who is dead, and I take you prisoner in the name of the new sultan." + +This rebel vizier had long entertained a mortal hatred toward me. When +I was a boy I loved to shoot with a crossbow. Being one day upon the +terrace of the palace, and a bird happening to come by, I shot but +missed him, and the ball by misfortune hit the vizier, who was taking +the air upon the terrace of his own house, and put out one of his +eyes. He never forgave me, and, as opportunity offered, made me +sensible of his resentment. But now that he had me in his power he +came to me like a madman, and thrusting his finger into my right eye, +pulled it out, and thus I became blind of one eye. + +His cruelty did not stop here; he commanded the executioner to cut off +my head, and leave me to be devoured by birds of prey. The executioner +conveyed me to the place of execution to complete this barbarous +sentence, but by my prayers and tears, I moved the man's compassion: +"Go," said he to me, "get you speedily out of the kingdom, and never +return, or you will destroy yourself and me." + +I thanked him, and as soon as I was left alone, comforted myself for +the loss of my eye by considering that I had very narrowly escaped a +much greater evil. + +Being thus surrounded with sorrows and persecuted by fortune, I had +recourse to a stratagem, which was the only means left me to save my +life: I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and putting on a +calender's habit, I passed, unknown by any, out of the city. I avoided +the towns till I arrived in the empire of the commander of the +faithful, the renowned caliph Haroun al Raschid, when I ceased to +fear. I resolved to come to Bagdad and throw myself at the feet of +this great monarch. I shall move him to compassion, said I to myself, +by the relation of my uncommon misfortunes, and without doubt he will +take pity on a persecuted prince, and not suffer me to implore his +assistance in vain. + +In short, after a journey of several months, I arrived to-day at the +gate of this city, into which I entered at dusk: and as I entered, +another calender came up. He saluted me, and I him. + +"You appear," said I, "to be a stranger, as I am." + +"You are not mistaken," replied he. + +He had no sooner returned this answer, than a third calender overtook +us. He saluted us, and told us he was a stranger newly come to Bagdad; +so that as brethren we joined together, resolving not to separate from +one another. + +It was now late, and we knew not where to seek a lodging in the city, +where we had never been before. But good fortune having brought us to +your gate, we made bold to knock, when you received us with so much +kindness that we are incapable of rendering suitable thanks. This, +madam, is, in obedience to your commands, the account I was to give +how I lost my right eye, wherefore my beard and eyebrows are shaved, +and how I came to be with you at this time. + + * * * * * + +"It is enough," said Zobeide; "you may retire to what place you think +fit." + +The calender begged the ladies' permission to stay till he had heard +the relations of his two comrades, "whom I cannot," said he, "leave +with honor"; and that he might also hear those of the three other +persons in company. + +The history of the first calender appeared very surprising to the +whole company, and particularly to the caliph. The presence of the +slaves, armed with their scimitars, did not prevent him from saying in +a whisper to the vizier, "As long as I can remember, I never heard +anything to compare with this history of the calender, though I have +been all my life in the habit of hearing similar narratives." + +He had no sooner finished than the second calender began, and +addressing himself to Zobeide, spoke as follows: + + +THE HISTORY OF THE SECOND CALENDER + +Madam, to obey your commands, and to show you by what strange accident +I became blind of the right eye, I must give you the account of my +life. I was yet a youth when the sultan, my father (for you must know +I am a prince by birth), perceived that I was endowed with good +natural ability, and spared nothing proper for improving it. No sooner +was I able to read and write than I learned the Koran from beginning +to end by heart, all the traditions collected from the mouth of our +prophet, and the works of poets. I applied myself to geography, +chronology, and to speak the Arabian language in its purity; not +forgetting in the meantime all such exercises as were proper for a +prince to understand. But one thing which I was fond of, and succeeded +in, was penmanship. In this I surpassed all the celebrated scribes of +our kingdom. + +The fame of my learning reached the Emperor of Hindustan, who sent an +embassy with rich presents to my father and invited me to his court. I +returned with the ambassador. + +We had been about a month on our journey when we saw in the distance +an immense cloud of dust, and soon after we discovered fifty fierce +horsemen, sons of the desert, well armed. + +Not being able to repel force by force, we told them we were the +ambassadors of the sultan of India; but the sons of the desert +insolently answered, "Why do you wish us to respect the sultan, your +master? We are not his subjects, nor even within his realm." They +attacked us on all sides. + +I defended myself as long as I could, but finding that I was wounded, +and that the ambassador and all our attendants were overthrown, I took +advantage of the remaining strength of my horse, and escaped. My horse +was wounded and suddenly fell dead under me. Alone, wounded, and a +stranger, I bound up my own wound and walked on the rest of the day, +and arrived at the foot of a mountain, where I perceived, as the sun +set, a cave; I went in, and stayed there that night, after I had +eaten some fruits that I gathered by the way. I continued my journey +for several successive days without finding any place of abode; but +after a month's time I came to a large town, well inhabited. It was +surrounded by several streams, so that it seemed to enjoy perpetual +spring. + +My face, hands, and feet were black and sunburnt; and by my long +journey, my boots were quite worn out, so that I was forced to walk +barefooted; and my clothes were all in rags. I entered the town to +inform myself where I was, and addressed myself to a tailor that was +at work in his shop. He made me sit down by him, and asked me who I +was, from whence I came, and what had brought me thither. I did not +conceal anything that had befallen me, nor made I any scruple to +reveal to him my rank. The tailor listened to me with attention; then +he brought me something to eat, and offered me an apartment at his +house, which I accepted. + +Some days after my arrival the tailor asked me if I knew anything by +which I could acquire a livelihood. I told him that I was well versed +in the science of laws, both human and divine; that I was a +grammarian, a poet, and, above all, that I wrote remarkably well. + +"None of these things will avail you here. If you will follow my +advice," he added, "you will procure a short jacket, and as you are +strong and in good health, you may go into the neighboring forest and +cut wood for fuel. You may then go and expose it for sale in the +market. By these means you will be enabled to wait till the cloud +which hangs over you, and obliges you to conceal your birth, shall +have blown over. I will furnish you with a cord and hatchet." + +The next day the tailor brought me a rope, a hatchet, and a short +jacket, and recommended me to some poor people who gained their bread +after the same manner, that they might take me into their company. +They conducted me to the wood, and the first day I brought in as much +upon my head as procured me half a piece of gold of the money of that +country; for though the wood was not far distant from the town, yet it +was very scarce, by reason that few would be at the trouble of +fetching it for themselves. I gained a good sum of money in a short +time, and repaid my tailor what he had loaned me. + +I continued this way of living for a whole year. One day, having by +chance penetrated farther into the wood than usual, I happened to +light on a pleasant spot, where I began to cut. In pulling up the root +of a tree I espied an iron ring, fastened to a trap door of the same +metal. I took away the earth that covered it, and having lifted it up, +discovered a flight of stairs, which I descended with my ax in my +hand. + +When I had reached the bottom I found myself in a palace, which was as +well lighted as if it had been above ground in the open air. I was +going forward along a gallery supported by pillars of jasper, the base +and capitals being of massy gold, when I saw a lady of a noble and +graceful air, and extremely beautiful, coming toward me. + +I hastened to meet her; and as I was making a low obeisance she asked +me, "Are you a man, or a genie?" + +"A man, madam," said I. + +"By what adventure," said she, fetching a deep sigh, "are you come +hither? I have lived here for twenty-five years, and you are the +first man I have beheld in that time." + +Her great beauty, and the sweetness and civility wherewith she +received me, emboldened me to say, "Madam, before I satisfy your +curiosity, give me leave to say that I am infinitely gratified with +this unexpected meeting, which offers me an occasion of consolation in +the midst of my affliction; and perhaps it may give me an opportunity +of making you also more happy than you are." + +I then related my story to her from beginning to end. + +"Alas! prince," she replied, sighing, "the most enchanting spots +cannot afford delight when we are there against our will. But hear now +my history. I am a princess, the daughter of a sultan, the king of the +Ebony Island, to which the precious wood found in it has given its +name. + +"The king, my father, had chosen for my husband a prince, who was my +cousin; but on the very night of the bridal festivities, in the midst +of the rejoicings of the court, a genie took me away. I fainted with +alarm, and when I recovered I found myself in this place. I was long +inconsolable; but time and necessity have reconciled me to see the +genie. Twenty-five years I have passed in this place, in which I have +everything necessary for life and splendor. + +"Every ten days," continued the princess, "the genie visits me. In the +meantime, if I have any occasion for him, I have only to touch a +talisman, and he appears. It is now four days since he was here, and I +have therefore to wait six days more before he again makes his +appearance. You, therefore, may remain five with me, if it be +agreeable to you, in order to keep me company; and I will endeavor to +regale and entertain you equal to your merit and dignity." + +The princess then conducted me to a bath, the most commodious, and the +most sumptuous imaginable; and when I came forth, instead of my own +clothes I found a costly robe, which I did not esteem so much for its +richness as because it made me appear worthy to be in her company. We +sat down on a sofa covered with rich tapestry, with cushions of the +rarest Indian brocade; and some time after she covered a table with +several dishes of delicate meats. We ate, and passed the remaining +part of the day, as also the evening, together very pleasantly. + +The next day I said to her, "Fair princess, you have been too long +buried alive in this subterranean palace; pray rise--follow me and +enjoy the light of day, of which you have been deprived so many +years." + +"Prince," replied she, with a smile, "if you out of ten days will +grant me nine, and resign the tenth to the genie, the light of day +would be nothing to me." + +"Princess," said I, "the fear of the genie makes you speak thus. For +my part, I regard him so little that I will break in pieces his +talisman, with the spell that is written about it. Let him come; and +how brave or powerful he be, I will defy him." On saying this I gave +the talisman a kick with my foot, and broke it in pieces. + +The talisman was no sooner broken than the whole palace shook as if +ready to fall to atoms, and the walls opened to afford a passage to +the genie. I had no sooner felt the shock than, at the earnest +request of the princess, I took to flight. Having hastily put on my +own robe, I ascended the stairs leading to the forest, and reached the +town in safety. My landlord, the tailor, was very glad to see me. + +In my haste, however, I had left my hatchet and cord in the princess's +chamber. + +Shortly after my return, while brooding over this loss and lamenting +the cruel treatment to which the princess would be exposed, the tailor +came in and said, "An old man, whom I do not know, brings your hatchet +and cords, and wishes to speak to you, for he will deliver them to +none but yourself." + +At these words I changed color, and fell a-trembling. While the tailor +was asking me the reason, my chamber door opened, and the old man, +having no patience to stay, appeared with my hatchet and cords. + +"I am a genie," said he, speaking to me, "a grandson of Eblis,[15] +prince of genies. Is not this your hatchet and are not these your +cords?" + +[Footnote 15: Eblis, or Degial, the evil spirit, who, according to the +Koran, betrayed Adam to transgression, and yet seeks to inflict injury +on his race.] + +After the genie had put these questions to me he gave me no time to +answer. He grasped me by the middle, dragged me out of the chamber, +and mounting into the air carried me up to the skies with +extraordinary swiftness. He descended again in like manner to the +earth, which on a sudden he caused to open with a stroke of his foot, +when I found myself in the enchanted palace, before the fair princess +of the Isle of Ebony. But, alas! what a spectacle was there! I saw +what pierced me to the heart; this poor princess was weltering in her +blood, and lay upon the ground, more like one dead than alive, with +her cheeks bathed in tears. + +The genie, having loaded us both with many insults and reproaches, +drew his scimitar and declared that he would give life and liberty to +either of us who would with his scimitar cut off the head of the +other. We both resolutely declined to purchase freedom at such a +price, and asserted our choice to be to die rather in the presence of +each other. + +"I see," said the genie, "that you both outbrave me, but both of you +shall know by my treatment of you of what I am capable." + +At these words the monster took up the scimitar and cut off one of her +hands, which left her only so much life as to give me a token with the +other that she bade me forever adieu; and then she died. + +I fainted at the sight. + +When I was come to myself again, I cried, "Strike, for I am ready to +die, and await death as the greatest favor you can show me." + +But instead of killing me, he said, "Behold how genies revenge +themselves on those who offend them. Thou art the least to blame, and +I will content myself with transforming thee into a dog, ape, lion, or +bird; take thy choice of any of these. I will leave it to thyself." + +These words gave me some hopes of being able to appease him. + +"O genie," said I, "restrain your rage, and since you will not take +away my life, pardon me freely, as a good dervish pardoned one who +envied him." + +"And how was that?" said he. + +I answered as follows: + + +THE HISTORY OF THE ENVIOUS MAN AND OF HIM WHO WAS ENVIED + +In a certain town there were two men, neighbors, who lived next door +to each other. One of them was so excessively envious of the other +that the latter resolved to change his abode and go and reside at some +distance from him. He therefore sold his house, and went to another +city at no great distance, and bought a convenient house. It had a +good garden and a moderate court, in which there was a deep well that +was not now used. + +The good man, having made this purchase, put on the habit of a +dervish, and in a short time he established a numerous society of +dervishes.[16] He soon came to be known by his virtues, through which +he acquired the esteem of many people, as well of the commonalty as of +the chief of the city. In short, he was much honored and courted by +all ranks. People came from afar to recommend themselves to his +prayers; and all who visited him, published what blessings they +received through his means. + +[Footnote 16: Sir Paul Ricaut gives this account of the dress of the +dervish. "Their shirts are of coarse linen, with a white plaid or +mantle about their shoulders. Their caps are like the crown of a hat +of the largest size. Their legs are always bare, and their breasts +open, which some of them burn or scar in token of greater devotion. +They wear a leathern girdle, with some shining stone upon the buckle +before. They always carry a string of beads, which they call Tesbe, +and oftener run them over than our friars do their rosary, at every +bead repeating the name of God."--_History of Ottoman Empire_, p. 263. + +"Their order has few rules, except of performing their fantastic rites +every Tuesday and Friday. They meet in a large hall, where they all +stand with their eyes fixed on the ground, and their arms crossed, +while the imaun or preacher reads part of the Koran from a pulpit, and +after a short exposition on what he has read, they stand around their +superior, and tying their robe, which is very wide, round their waist, +begin to turn round with an amazing swiftness, moving fast or slow as +the music is played. This lasts above an hour, without any of them +showing the least appearance of giddiness, which is not to be wondered +at when it is considered they are used to it from their infancy. There +were among them some little dervishes, of six or seven years old, who +seemed no more disordered by that exercise than the others. At the end +of the ceremony they shout out, 'There is no other god but God, and +Mohammed is his prophet'; after which they kiss the superior's hand +and retire. The whole is performed with the most solemn gravity." Lady +M. W. Montague's _Letters_, vol. ii, p. 43.] + +The great reputation of this honest man having spread to the town from +whence he had come, it touched the envious man so much to the quick +that he left his own house and affairs with a resolution to ruin him. +With this intent he went to the new convent of dervishes, of which his +former neighbor was the head, who received him with all imaginable +tokens of friendship. The envious man told him that he was come to +communicate a business of importance, which he could not do but in +private; "and that nobody may hear us," he said, "let us take a walk +in your court; and seeing night begins to draw on, command your +dervishes to retire to their cells." The chief of the dervishes did as +he was requested. + +When the envious man saw that he was alone with this good man, he +began to tell him his errand, walking side by side in the court, till +he saw his opportunity; and getting the good man near the brink of the +well, he gave him a thrust, and pushed him into it. + +This old well was inhabited by peris[17] and genies, which happened +luckily for the relief of the head of the convent; for they received +and supported him, and carried him to the bottom, so that he got no +hurt. He perceived that there was something extraordinary in his fall, +which must otherwise have cost him his life; but he neither saw nor +felt anything. + +[Footnote 17: The word peri, in the Persian language, signifies that +beautiful race of creatures which constitutes the link between angels +and men.] + +He soon heard a voice, however, which said, "Do you know what honest +man this is, to whom we have done this service?" + +Another voice answered, "No." To which the first replied, "Then I +will tell you. This man, out of charity, left the town he lived in, +and has established himself in this place, in hopes to cure one of his +neighbors of the envy he had conceived against him; he had acquired +such a general esteem that the envious man, not able to endure it, +came hither on purpose to ruin him; and he would have accomplished his +design had it not been for the assistance we have given this honest +man, whose reputation is so great that the sultan, who keeps his +residence in the neighboring city, was to pay him a visit to-morrow, +to recommend the princess his daughter to his prayers." + +Another voice asked, "What need had the princess of the dervish's +prayers?" To which the first answered, "You do not know, it seems, +that she is possessed by a genie. But I well know how this good +dervish may cure her. He has a black cat in his convent, with a white +spot at the end of her tail, about the bigness of a small piece of +Arabian money; let him only pull seven hairs out of the white spot, +burn them, and smoke the princess's head with the fumes. She will not +only be immediately cured, but be so safely delivered from the genie +that he will never dare approach her again." + +The head of the dervishes remembered every word of the conversation +between the fairies and the genies, who remained silent the remainder +of the night. The next morning, as soon as daylight appeared, and he +could discern the nature of his situation, the well being broken down +in several places, he saw a hole, by which he crept out with ease. + +The other dervishes, who had been seeking for him, were rejoiced to +see him. He gave them a brief account of the wickedness of the man to +whom he had given so kind a reception the day before, and retired into +his cell. Shortly after, the black cat, which the fairies and genies +had mentioned the night before, came to fawn upon her master, as she +was accustomed to do; he took her up, and pulled seven hairs from the +white spot that was upon her tail, and laid them aside for his use +when occasion should serve. + +Soon after sunrise the sultan, who would leave no means untried that +he thought likely to restore the princess to perfect health, arrived +at the gate of the convent. He commanded his guards to halt, while he +with his principal officers went in. The dervishes received him with +profound respect. + +The sultan called their chief aside, and said, "Good Sheik,[18] you +may probably be already acquainted with the cause of my visit." + +[Footnote 18: Sheiks are the chiefs of the societies of dervishes; +cadis, the magistrate of a town or city.--Notes on Vathek, p. 322.] + +"Yes, sir," replied he gravely, "if I do not mistake, it is the +disease of the princess which procures me this unmerited honor." + +"That is the real case," replied the sultan. "You will give me new +life if your prayers, as I hope they may, restore my daughter's +health." + +"Sir," said the good man, "if your majesty will be pleased to let her +come hither, I am in hopes, through God's assistance, that she will be +effectually cured." + +The prince, transported with joy, sent immediately for his daughter, +who soon appeared with a numerous train of ladies and attendants, +veiled, so that her face was not seen. The chief of the dervishes +caused a carpet to be held over her head, and he had no sooner thrown +the seven hairs upon the burning coals than the genie uttered a great +cry and, without being seen, left the princess at liberty; upon which +she took the veil from her face, and rose up to see where she was, +saying, "Where am I, and who brought me hither?" + +At these words, the sultan, overcome with excess of joy, embraced his +daughter and kissed her eyes; he also kissed the sheik's hands, and +said to his officers, "What reward does he deserve that has thus cured +my daughter?" + +They all cried, "He deserves her in marriage." + +"That is what I had in my thoughts," said the sultan; "and I make him +my son-in-law from this moment." + +Some time after, the prime vizier died, and the sultan conferred the +office on the dervish. Then the sultan himself died, without heirs +male; upon which the religious orders and the army consulted together, +and the good man was declared and acknowledged sultan by general +consent. + +The honest dervish ascended the throne of his father-in-law. One day +as he was in the midst of his courtiers on a march, he espied the +envious man among the crowd that stood as he passed along. Calling one +of the viziers that attended him, he whispered in his ear, "Go bring +me that man you see there; but take care you do not frighten him." + +The vizier obeyed, and when the envious man was brought into his +presence the sultan said, "Friend, I am extremely glad to see you." + +Then he called an officer. "Go immediately," said he, "and cause to be +paid to this man out of my treasury,[19] one hundred pieces of gold. +Let him have also twenty loads of the richest merchandise in my +storehouses, and a sufficient guard to conduct him to his house." + +[Footnote 19: A favorite story is related of the benevolence of one of +the sons of Ali. In serving at table, a slave had inadvertently +dropped a dish of scalding broth on his master. The heedless wretch +fell prostrate to deprecate his punishment, and repeated a verse of +the Koran: "Paradise is for those who command their anger." "I am not +angry." "And for those who pardon offenses." "I pardon your offense." +"And for those who return good for evil." "I give you your liberty, +and four hundred pieces of silver."--Gibbon's _Decline and Fall._] + +After he had given this charge to the officer he bade the envious man +farewell, and proceeded on his march. + + * * * * * + +When I had finished the recital of this story to the genie I employed +all my eloquence to persuade him to imitate so good an example, and to +grant me pardon; but it was impossible to move his compassion. + +"All that I can do for thee," said he, "is to grant thee thy life, but +I must place thee under enchantments." So saying, he seized me +violently, and carried me through the arched roof of the subterranean +palace, which opened to give him passage. He ascended with me into the +air to such a height that the earth appeared like a little white +cloud. He then descended again like lightning, and alighted upon the +summit of a mountain. + +Here he took up a handful of earth, and, muttering some words which I +did not understand, threw it upon me. "Quit," said he, "the form of a +man, and take that of an ape." + +He instantly disappeared, and left me alone, transformed into an ape, +and overwhelmed with sorrow, in a strange country, not knowing whether +I was near or far from my father's dominions. + +I descended the mountain, and entered a plain, level country, which +took me a month to travel over, and then I came to the seaside. It +happened at the time to be perfectly calm, and I espied a vessel +about half a league from the shore. Unwilling to lose so good an +opportunity, I broke off a large branch from a tree, carried it into +the sea, and placed myself astride upon it, with a stick in each hand, +to serve me for oars. + +I launched out on this frail bark, and rowed toward the ship. When I +had approached sufficiently near to be seen, the seamen and passengers +on the deck regarded me with astonishment. In the meantime I got on +board, and laying hold of a rope, jumped upon the deck, but having +lost my speech, I found myself in great perplexity. And indeed the +risk I ran was not less than when I was at the mercy of the genie. + +The merchants, being both superstitious and scrupulous, thought if +they received me on board I should be the occasion of some misfortune +to them during their voyage. On this account they said, "Let us throw +him into the sea." Some one of them would not have failed to carry +this threat into execution had I not gone to the captain, thrown +myself at his feet, and taken hold of his skirt in a supplicating +posture. This action, together with the tears which he saw gush from +my eyes, moved his compassion. He took me under his protection, and +loaded me with a thousand caresses. On my part, though I had not power +to speak, I showed by my gestures every mark of gratitude in my power. + +The wind that succeeded the calm continued to blow in the same +direction for fifty days, and brought us safe to the port of a city, +well peopled, and of great trade, where we cast anchor. + +Our vessel was instantly surrounded with multitudes of boats full of +people. Among the rest, some officers of the sultan came on board, +and said "Our master rejoices in your safe arrival, and he beseeches +each of you to write a few lines upon this roll. The prime vizier, +who, besides possessing great abilities for the management of public +affairs, could write in the highest perfection, died a few days since, +and the sultan has made a solemn vow not to give the place to any one +who cannot write equally well. No one in the empire has been judged +worthy to supply the vizier's place." + +Those of the merchants who thought they could write well enough to +aspire to this high dignity wrote one after another what they thought +fit. After they had done, I advanced, and took the roll, but all the +people cried out that I would tear it or throw it into the sea, till +they saw how properly I held the roll, and made a sign that I would +write in my turn. Their apprehensions then changed into wonder. +However, as they had never seen an ape that could write, and could not +be persuaded that I was more ingenious than others of my kind, they +wished to take the roll out of my hand; but the captain took my part +once more. + +"Let him alone," said he; "allow him to write." + +Perceiving that no one opposed my design, I took the pen, and wrote +six sorts of hands used among the Arabians, and each specimen +contained an extemporary distich or quatrain (a stanza of four lines) +in praise of the sultan. When I had done, the officers took the roll, +and carried it to the sultan. + +The sultan took little notice of any of the writings except mine, +which pleased him so much that he said to the officers, "Take the +finest horse in my stable, with the richest trappings, and a robe of +the most sumptuous brocade to put on the person who wrote the six +hands, and bring him hither." + +At this command the officers could not forbear laughing. The sultan +was incensed at their rudeness, and would have punished them, had they +not explained. + +"Sir," said they, "we humbly beg your majesty's pardon. These hands +were not written by a man, but by an ape." + +"What do you say?" exclaimed the sultan. "Those admirable characters, +are they not written by the hands of a man?" + +"No, sir," replied the officers; "we assure your majesty that it was +an ape, who wrote them in our presence." + +The sultan was too much surprised at this account not to desire a +sight of me, and therefore said, "Do what I command you, and bring me +speedily that wonderful ape." + +The officers returned to the vessel, and showed the captain their +order, who answered, "The sultan's command must be obeyed." Whereupon +they clothed me with the rich brocade robe, and carried me ashore, +where they set me on horseback, while the sultan waited for me at his +palace with a great number of courtiers. + +The procession commenced; the harbor, the streets, the public places, +windows, terraces, palaces, and houses were filled with an infinite +number of people of all ranks, who flocked from every part of the city +to see me; for the rumor was spread in a moment that the sultan had +chosen an ape to be his grand vizier; and after having served for a +spectacle to the people, who could not forbear to express their +surprise by redoubling their shouts and cries, I arrived at the +sultan's palace. + +I found the prince on his throne in the midst of the grandees; I made +my obeisance three times very low, and at last kneeled and kissed the +ground before him, and afterward took my seat in the posture of an +ape. The whole assembly viewed me with admiration, and could not +comprehend how it was possible that an ape should so well understand +how to pay the sultan his due respect; and he himself was more +astonished than any. In short, the usual ceremony of the audience +would have been complete, could I have added speech to my behavior. + +The sultan dismissed his courtiers, and none remained by him but the +chief of the attendants of the palace, a little young slave, and +myself. He went from his chamber of audience into his own apartment, +where he ordered dinner to be brought. As he sat at table, he made me +a sign to approach and eat with them. To show my obedience, I kissed +the ground, arose, and placed myself at the table, and ate. + +Before the table was cleared, I espied a standish, which I made a sign +to have brought me; having got it, I wrote upon a large peach some +verses expressive of my acknowledgment to the sultan; who, having read +them, after I had presented the peach to him, was still more +astonished. When the things were removed, they brought him a +particular liquor, of which he caused them to give me a glass. I +drank, and wrote upon the glass some new verses, which explained the +state of happiness I was now in, after many sufferings. The sultan +read these likewise, and said, "A man that was capable of composing +such poetry would rank among the greatest of men." + +The sultan caused to be brought to him a chessboard,[20] and asked me +by a sign if I understood that game, and would play with him. I kissed +the ground; and laying my hand upon my head, signified that I was +ready to receive that honor. He won the first game; but I won the +second and third; and perceiving he was somewhat displeased at my +success, I made a stanza to pacify him, in which I told him that two +potent armies had been fighting furiously all day, but that they +concluded a peace toward the evening, and passed the remaining part of +the night very amicably together upon the field of battle. + +[Footnote 20: Chess is said to have had its origin in the East, and to +have been introduced into Europe after the Crusades.] + +So many circumstances appearing to the sultan beyond what had ever +either been seen or known of apes, he determined not to be the only +witness of these prodigies himself, but having a daughter, called the +Lady of Beauty, sent for her, that she should share his pleasure. + +The princess, who had her face unveiled, no sooner came into the room +than she put on her veil, and said to the sultan, "Sir, I am surprised +that you have sent for me to appear before a man. That seeming ape is +a young prince, son of a powerful sultan, and has been metamorphosed +into an ape by enchantment. When I was just out of the nursery, an old +lady who waited on me was a most expert magician, and taught me +seventy rules of magic. By this science I know all enchanted persons +at first sight: I know who they are, and by whom they have been +enchanted; therefore do not be surprised if I should forthwith restore +this prince, in spite of the enchantments, to his own form." + +"Do so, then," interrupted the sultan, "for you cannot give me +greater pleasure, as I wish to have him for my grand vizier, and +bestow you upon him for a wife." + +"I am ready, sire," answered the princess, "to obey you in all things +you please to command." + +The princess, the Lady of Beauty, went into her apartment, and brought +thence a knife, which had some Hebrew words engraved on the blade: she +made the sultan, the little slave, and myself, descend into a private +court of the palace, and there left us under a gallery that went round +it. She placed herself in the middle of the court, where she made a +great circle, and within it she wrote several words in ancient Arabian +characters. + +When she had finished and prepared the circle, she placed herself in +the center of it, where she began incantations, and repeated verses of +the Koran. The air grew insensibly dark, as if it had been night; we +found ourselves struck with consternation, and our fear increased when +we saw the genie appear suddenly in the shape of a lion[21] of +gigantic size. + +[Footnote 21: This same power of changing the form has found a place +in ancient and modern story. The Proteus of heathen mythology ever +found means of safety and protection by his sudden assumption of some +new form and shape.] + +"Thou shalt pay dearly," said the lion, "for the trouble thou hast +given me in coming here." In saying this, he opened his horrible jaws, +and advanced to devour her; but she, being on her guard, jumped back, +and had just time to pluck out a hair; and pronouncing two or three +words, she changed it into a sharp scythe, with which she immediately +cut the lion in two pieces, through the middle. + +The two parts of the lion directly disappeared, and the head changed +into a large scorpion. The princess then took the form of a serpent, +and fought the scorpion, which, finding itself defeated, changed into +an eagle, and flew away. But the serpent then became another eagle, +black, and very large, and went in pursuit of it. We now lost sight of +them for some time. + +Shortly after they had disappeared, the earth opened before us, and a +black and white cat appeared, the hairs of which stood quite on end, +and which made a most horrible mewing. A black wolf directly followed +after her, and gave her no time to rest. The cat, being thus hard +pressed, changed into a worm, and hid itself in a pomegranate which +lay by accident on the ground; but the pomegranate swelled +immediately, and became as big as a gourd, which, lifting itself up to +the roof of the gallery, rolled there for some time backward and +forward; it then fell down again into the court, and broke into +several pieces. + +The wolf had in the meanwhile transformed itself into a cock, and now +fell to picking up the seeds of the pomegranate one after another; but +finding no more, he came toward us with his wings spread, making a +great noise, as if he would ask us whether there were any more seed. +There was one lying on the brink of the canal, which the cock +perceiving as he went back, ran speedily thither; but just as he was +going to pick it up the seed rolled into a fountain and turned into a +little fish. + +The cock, flying toward the fountain, turned into a pike, and pursued +the small fish; they both continued under water above two hours, and +we knew not what was become of them; but suddenly we heard terrible +cries, which made us tremble, and a little while after we saw the +genie and princess all in flames. They threw ashes of fire out of +their mouths at each other, till they came to close combat; then the +two fires increased, with a thick, burning smoke, which mounted so +high that we had reason to apprehend it would set the palace on fire. +But we very soon had a more pressing occasion of fear, for the genie, +having got loose from the princess, came to the gallery where we +stood, and blew flames of fire upon us. We must all have perished had +not the princess, running to our assistance, forced him to retire, and +to defend himself against her; yet, notwithstanding all her exertions, +she could not hinder the sultan's beard from being burned, and his +face scorched, and a spark from entering my right eye, and making it +blind. The sultan and I expected nothing but death, when we heard a +cry of "Victory, victory!" and instantly the princess appeared in her +natural shape; but the genie was reduced to a heap of ashes. + +The princess approached us and hastily called for a cupful of water, +which the young slave, who had received no hurt, brought her. She took +it, and after pronouncing some words over it, threw it upon me, +saying, "If thou art become an ape by enchantment, change thy shape, +and take that of a man, which thou hadst before." These words were +hardly uttered when I again became a man in every respect as I was +before my transformation, excepting the loss of my eye. + +I was preparing to return the princess my thanks, but she prevented me +by addressing herself to her father: "Sire, I have gained the victory +over the genie; but it is a victory that costs me dear. I have but a +few minutes to live; the fire has pierced me during the terrible +combat, and I find it is gradually consuming me. This would not have +happened had I perceived the last of the pomegranate seeds, and +swallowed it, as I did the others when I was changed into a cock; the +genie had fled thither as to his last intrenchment, and upon that the +success of the combat depended. This oversight obliged me to have +recourse to fire, and to fight with those mighty arms as I did, +between heaven and earth, in your presence; for in spite of all, I +made the genie know that I understood more than he; I have conquered, +and reduced him to ashes, but I cannot escape death, which is +approaching." + +Suddenly the princess exclaimed, "I burn, I burn!" She found that the +fire had at last seized upon her vital parts, which made her still +cry, "I burn!" until death had put an end to her intolerable pain. The +effect of that fire was so extraordinary, that in a few moments she +was wholly reduced to ashes, as the genie had been. + +I cannot tell you, madam, how much I was grieved at so dismal a +spectacle; I had rather all my life have continued an ape or a dog, +than to have seen my benefactress thus miserably perish. The sultan +cried piteously, and beat himself on his head and breast, until, being +quite overcome with grief, he fainted away. In the meantime, the +attendants and officers came running at the sultan's lamentations, and +with much difficulty brought him to himself. + +When the knowledge of the death of the princess had spread through the +palace and the city, all the people greatly bewailed. Public mourning +was observed for seven days, and many ceremonies were performed. The +ashes of the genie were thrown into the air; but those of the princess +were collected into a precious urn, to be preserved; and the urn was +deposited in a superb mausoleum[22] constructed for that purpose on +the spot where the princess had been consumed. + +The grief of the sultan for the loss of his daughter confined him to +his chamber for a whole month. Before he had fully recovered his +strength, he sent for me and said, "You are the cause of all these +misfortunes; depart hence therefore in peace, without further delay, +and take care never again to appear in my dominions on penalty of thy +life." + +I was obliged to quit the palace, again cast down to a low estate, and +an outcast from the world. Before I left the city I went into a +bagnio, where I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and put on +a calender's robe. I passed through many countries without making +myself known; at last I resolved to visit Bagdad, in hopes of meeting +with the Commander of the Faithful, to move his compassion by relating +to him my unfortunate adventures. I arrived this evening; and the +first man I met was this calender, our brother, who spoke before me. + +[Footnote 22: The erection of these tombs over the supposed effigy, or +the real remains, of the deceased, is often mentioned in these tales. +The same type of tomb, with its dome or cupola, prevails throughout. A +structure of a similar fashion is celebrated in history as the Taj +Mahal at Agra, erected by the Shah Jehan, in memory of his queen, +Mumtaz Mahal. It stands on a marble terrace over the Jamna, and is +surrounded by extensive gardens. The building itself on the outside is +of white marble, with a high cupola and four minarets. In the center +of the inside is a lofty hall of a circular form under a dome, in the +middle of which is the tomb, inclosed within an open screen of +elaborate tracery formed of marble and mosaics. The materials are +lapis lazuli, jasper, bloodstone, a sort of golden stone (not well +understood), agates, carnelian, jade, and various other stones. A +single flower in the screen contains a hundred stones; "and yet," says +Bishop Heber; "though everything is finished like an ornament for a +drawing-room chimney-piece, the general effect is rather solemn and +impressive than gaudy."--Elphinstone's _India_, p. 528; and _Asiatic +Researches_, Vol. V, p. 434.] + +You know the remaining part, madam, and the cause of my having the +honor to be here. + + * * * * * + +When the second calender had concluded his story, Zobeide, to whom he +had addressed his speech, said, "It is well; you are at liberty": but +instead of departing he also petitioned the lady to show him the same +favor vouchsafed to the first calender, and went and sat down by him. + +Then the third calender, knowing it was his turn to speak, addressed +himself, like the others, to Zobeide, and began his history as +follows: + + +THE HISTORY OF THE THIRD CALENDER + +My story, O honorable lady, differs from those you have already heard. +The two princes who have spoken before me have each lost an eye by +events beyond their own control; but I lost mine through my own fault. + +My name is Agib. I am the son of a sultan. After his death I took +possession of his dominions, and continued in the city where he had +resided. My kingdom is composed of several fine provinces upon the +mainland, besides a number of valuable islands. My first object was to +visit the provinces. I afterward caused my whole fleet to be fitted +out, and went to my islands to gain the hearts of my subjects by my +presence, and to confirm them in their loyalty. These voyages gave me +some taste for navigation, in which I took so much pleasure that I +resolved to make some discoveries beyond my own territories; to which +end I caused ten ships to be fitted out, embarked, and set sail. + +Our voyage was very pleasant for forty days successively; but on the +forty-first night the wind became contrary, and so boisterous that we +were nearly lost. I gave orders to steer back to my own coast; but I +perceived at the same time that my pilot knew not where we were. Upon +the tenth day a seaman, being sent to look out for land from the +masthead, gave notice that he could see nothing but sky and sea, but +that right ahead he perceived a great blackness. + +The pilot changed color at this account, and throwing his turban on +the deck with one hand, and beating his breast with the other, cried, +"O sir, we are all lost; not one of us can escape; and with all my +skill it is not in my power to effect our deliverance." + +I asked him what reason he had thus to despair. + +He exclaimed, "The tempest has brought us so far out of our course +that to-morrow about noon we shall be near the black mountain, or mine +of adamant, which at this very minute draws all your fleet toward it +by virtue of the iron in your ships; and when we approach within a +certain distance the attraction of the adamant will have such force +that all the nails will be drawn out of the sides and bottoms of the +ships, and fasten to the mountain, so that your vessels will fall to +pieces and sink. This mountain," continued the pilot, "is +inaccessible. On the summit there is a dome of fine brass, supported +by pillars of the same metal, and on the top of that dome stands a +horse, likewise of brass, with a rider on his back, who has a plate of +lead fixed to his breast, upon which some talismanic characters are +engraved. Sir, the tradition is, that this statue is the chief cause +why so many ships and men have been lost and sunk in this place, and +that it will ever continue to be fatal to all those who have the +misfortune to approach, until it shall be thrown down." + +The pilot having finished his discourse, began to weep afresh, and all +the rest of the ship's company did the same, and they took farewell of +each other. + +The next morning we distinctly perceived the black mountain. About +noon we were so near that we found what the pilot had foretold to be +true; for all the nails and iron in the ships flew toward the +mountain, where they fixed, by the violence of the attraction, with a +horrible noise; the ships split asunder, and their cargoes sank into +the sea. + +All my people were drowned, but God had mercy on me and permitted me +to save myself by means of a plank, which the wind drove ashore just +at the foot of the mountain. I did not receive the least hurt; and my +good fortune brought me to a landing place where there were steps that +led up to the summit of the mountain. + +At last I reached the top, without accident. I went into the dome, +and, kneeling on the ground, gave God thanks for His mercies. + +I passed the night under the dome. In my sleep an old grave man +appeared to me, and said, "Hearken, Agib; as soon as thou art awake +dig up the ground under thy feet: thou wilt find a bow of brass, and +three arrows of lead. Shoot the three arrows at the statue, and the +rider and his horse will fall into the sea; this being done, the sea +will swell and rise to the foot of the dome. When it has come so high, +thou wilt perceive a boat, with one man holding an oar in each hand; +this man is also of metal, but different from that thou hast thrown +down; step on board, but without mentioning the name of God, and let +him conduct thee. He will in ten days' time bring thee into another +sea, where thou shalt find an opportunity to return to thy country, +provided, as I have told thee, thou dost not mention the name of God +during the whole voyage." + +When I awoke I felt much comforted by the vision, and did not fail to +observe everything that the old man had commanded me. I took the bow +and arrows out of the ground, shot at the horseman, and with the third +arrow I overthrew him and the horse. In the meantime the sea swelled +and rose up by degrees. When it came as high as the foot of the dome +upon the top of the mountain, I saw, afar off, a boat rowing toward +me, and I returned God thanks. + +When the boat made land I stepped aboard, and took great heed not to +pronounce the name of God, neither spoke I one word. I sat down, and +the man of metal began to row off from the mountain. He rowed without +ceasing till the ninth day, when I saw some islands, which gave me +hopes that I should escape all the danger that I feared. The excess of +my joy made me forget what I was forbidden: "God is great! God be +praised!" said I. + +I had no sooner spoken than the boat and man sank, casting me upon the +sea. I swam until night, when, as my strength began to fail, a wave +vast as a mountain threw me on the land. The first thing I did was to +strip, and to dry my clothes. + +The next morning I went forward to discover what sort of country I was +in. I had not walked far before I found I was upon a desert, though a +very pleasant island, abounding with trees and wild shrubs bearing +fruit. I recommended myself to God, and prayed Him to dispose of me +according to His will. + +Immediately after, I saw a vessel coming from the mainland, before the +wind, directly toward the island. I got up into a very thick tree, +from whence, though unseen, I might safely view them. The vessel came +into a little creek, where ten slaves landed, carrying a spade and +other instruments for digging up the ground. They went toward the +middle of the island, where they dug for a considerable time, after +which they lifted up a trapdoor. They returned again to the vessel, +and unloaded several sorts of provisions and furniture, which they +carried to the place where they had been digging; they then descended +into a subterranean dwelling. + +I saw them once more go to the ship, and return soon after with an old +man, who led a handsome lad of about fifteen years of age. They all +descended when the trapdoor had been opened. After they had again come +up, they let down the trapdoor, covered it over with earth, and +returned to the creek where the ship lay; but I saw not the young man +in their company. This made me believe that he had stayed behind in +the subterranean cavern. + +The old man and the slaves went on board, and steered their course +toward the mainland. When I perceived they had proceeded to such a +distance that I could not be seen by them, I came down from the tree, +and went directly to the place where I had seen the ground broken. I +removed the earth by degrees, till I came to a stone two or three feet +square. I lifted it up, and found that it covered the head of a +flight of stairs, also of stone. I descended, and at the bottom found +myself in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and furnished with a +carpet, a couch covered with tapestry, and cushions of rich stuff, +upon which the young man sat. + +The young man, when he perceived me, was considerably alarmed; but I +made a low obeisance, and said to him, "Sir, do not fear. I am a king, +and I will do you no harm. On the contrary, it is probable that your +good destiny may have brought me hither to deliver you out of this +tomb, where it seems you have been buried alive. But what surprises me +(for you must know that I have seen all that hath passed since your +coming into this island) is, that you suffered yourself to be entombed +in this place without any resistance." + +The young man, much assured at these words, with a smiling countenance +requested me to seat myself by him. As soon as I was seated he said: +"Prince, my story will surprise you. My father is a jeweler. He has +many slaves, and also agents at the several courts, which he furnishes +with precious stones. He had been long married without having issue +when he dreamed that he should have a son, though his life would be +but short. Some time after, I was born, which occasioned great joy in +the family. My father, who had observed the very moment of my birth, +consulted astrologers about my nativity, and was answered, 'Your son +shall live happily till the age of fifteen, when his life will be +exposed to a danger which he will hardly be able to escape. But if his +good destiny preserve him beyond that time, he will live to a great +age. It will be,' said they, 'when the statue of brass, that stands +upon the summit of the mountain of adamant, shall be thrown into the +sea by Prince Agib, and, as the stars prognosticate, your son will be +killed fifty days afterward by that prince.' + +"My father took all imaginable care of my education until this year, +which is the fifteenth of my age. He had notice given him yesterday +that the statue of brass had been thrown into the sea about ten days +ago. This news alarmed him much; and, in consequence of the prediction +of the astrologers, he took the precaution to form this subterranean +habitation to hide me in during the fifty days after the throwing down +of the statue; and therefore, as it is ten days since this happened, +he came hastily hither to conceal me, and promised at the end of forty +days to return and fetch me away. For my own part, I am sanguine in my +hopes, and cannot believe that Prince Agib will seek for me in a place +under ground, in the midst of a desert island." + +He had scarcely done speaking when I said to him, with great joy: +"Dear sir, trust in the goodness of God, and fear nothing. I will not +leave you till the forty days have expired, of which the foolish +astrologers have made you apprehensive; and in the meanwhile I will do +you all the service in my power; after which, with leave of your +father and yourself, I shall have the benefit of getting to the +mainland in your vessel; and when I am returned into my kingdom, I +will remember the obligations I owe you, and endeavor to demonstrate +my gratitude by suitable acknowledgments." + +This discourse encouraged the jeweler's son, and inspired him with +confidence. I took care not to inform him I was the very Agib whom he +dreaded, lest I should alarm his fears. I found the young man of ready +wit, and partook with him of his provisions, of which he had enough +to have lasted beyond the forty days though he had had more guests +than myself. In short, madam, we spent thirty-nine days in this +subterranean abode in the pleasantest manner possible. + +The fortieth day appeared; and in the morning, when the young man +awoke, he said to me, with a transport of joy that he could not +restrain, "Prince, this is the fortieth day, and I am not dead, thanks +to God and your good company. My father will not fail to make you, +very shortly, every acknowledgment of his gratitude for your +attentions, and will furnish you with every necessary for your return +to your kingdom. But," continued he, "while we are waiting his +arrival, dear prince, pray do me the favor to fetch me a melon and +some sugar,[23] that I may eat some to refresh me." + +Out of several melons that remained I took the best, and laid it on a +plate; and as I could not find a knife to cut it with, I asked the +young man if he knew where there was one. + +"There is one," said he, "upon this cornice over my head." I +accordingly saw it there, and made so much haste to reach it that, +while I had it in my hand, my foot being entangled in the carpet, I +fell most unhappily upon the young man, and the knife pierced his +heart. + +At this spectacle I cried out with agony. I beat my head, my face, my +breast; I tore my clothes; I threw myself on the ground with +unspeakable sorrow and grief. + +[Footnote 23: Sugar has been traced to the Arabic "succar," which is +the Persian "shachar." The sugar-cane is a jointed reed, crowned with +leaves or blades; it contains a soft, pithy substance, full of sweet +juice. The people of Egypt eat a great quantity of the green +sugar-canes, and make a coarse loaf-sugar, and also sugar-candy and +some very fine sugar, sent to Constantinople to the Grand Signor, +which is very dear, being made only for that purpose.--Dr. Richard +Pocock, _Travels_, Vol. I, p. 204.] + +I would have embraced death without any reluctance, had it presented +itself to me. "But what we wish, whether it be good or evil, will not +always happen according to our desire." Nevertheless, considering that +all my tears and sorrows would not restore the young man to life, and, +the forty days being expired, I might be surprised by his father, I +quitted the subterranean dwelling, laid down the great stone upon the +entrance, and covered it with earth. I again ascended into the tree +which had previously sheltered me, when I saw the expected vessel +approaching the shore. + +The old man with his slaves landed immediately, and advanced toward +the subterranean dwelling, with a countenance that showed some hope; +but when they saw the earth had been newly removed, they changed +color, particularly the old man. They lifted up the stone, and +descended the stairs. They called the young man by his name, but no +answer was returned. Their fears redoubled. They searched about, and +at last found him stretched on his couch, with the knife through his +heart, for I had not had the courage to draw it out. On seeing this, +they uttered such lamentable cries that my tears flowed afresh. The +unfortunate father continued a long while insensible, and made them +more than once despair of his life; but at last he came to himself. +The slaves then brought up his son's body, dressed in his best +apparel, and when they had made a grave they buried it. The old man, +supported by two slaves, and his face covered with tears, threw the +first earth upon the body, after which the slaves filled up the grave. + +This being done, all the furniture was brought up, and, with the +remaining provisions, put on board the vessel. The old man, overcome +with sorrow, was carried upon a litter to the ship, which stood out to +sea, and in a short time was out of sight. + +After the old man and his slaves were gone I was left alone upon the +island. I lay that night in the subterranean dwelling, which they had +shut up, and when the day came, I walked round the island. + +I led this wearisome life for a whole month. At the expiration of this +time I perceived that the sea had sunk so low that there remained +between me and the continent but a small stream, which I crossed, and +the water did not reach above the middle of my leg. At last I got upon +more firm ground. When I had proceeded some distance from the sea I +saw a good way before me something that resembled a great fire, which +afforded me some comfort; for I said to myself, I shall here find some +persons, it not being possible that this fire should kindle of itself. +As I drew nearer, however, I found my error, and discovered that what +I had taken for a fire was a castle of red copper, which the beams of +the sun made to appear at a distance like flames. As I wondered at +this magnificent building, I saw ten handsome young men coming along; +but what surprised me was that they were all blind of the right eye. +They were accompanied by an old man, very tall, and of a venerable +aspect. + +As I was conjecturing by what adventure these men could come together, +they approached, and seemed glad to see me. After we had made our +salutations, they inquired what had brought me thither. I told them my +story, which filled them with great astonishment. + +After I had concluded my account, the young men prayed me to accompany +them into the palace, and brought me into a spacious hall, where there +were ten small blue sofas set round, separate from one another. In the +middle of this circle stood an eleventh sofa, not so high as the rest, +but of the same color, upon which the old man before mentioned sat +down, and the young men occupied the other ten. But as each sofa could +only contain one man, one of the young men said to me, "Sit down, +friend, upon that carpet in the middle of the room, and do not inquire +into anything that concerns us, nor the reason why we are all blind of +the right eye." + +The old man, having sat a short time, arose, and went out; but he +returned in a minute or two, brought in supper, distributed to each +man separately his proportion, and likewise brought me mine, which I +ate apart, as the rest did; and when supper was almost ended, he +presented to each of us a cup of wine. + +One of the young men observing that it was late, said to the old man, +"You do not bring us that with which we may acquit ourselves of our +duty." At these words the old man arose, and went into a closet, and +brought out thence upon his head ten basins, one after another, all +covered with black stuff; he placed one before every gentleman, +together with a light. + +They uncovered their basins, which contained ashes and powdered +charcoal; they mixed all together, and rubbed and bedaubed their faces +with it; and having thus blackened themselves, they wept and lamented, +beating their heads and breasts, and crying continually, "This is the +fruit of our idleness and curiosity." + +[Illustration: _These ladies vied with each other in their eager +solicitude to do me all possible service Page 91_] + +They continued this strange employment nearly the whole of the +night. I wished a thousand times to break the silence which had been +imposed upon me, and to ask the reason of their strange proceedings. +The next day, soon after we had arisen, we went out to walk, and then +I said to them, "I cannot forbear asking why you bedaubed your faces +with black--how it has happened that each of you has but one eye. I +conjure you to satisfy my curiosity." + +One of the young men answered on behalf of the rest, "Once more we +advise you to restrain your curiosity; it will cost you the loss of +your right eye." + +"No matter," I replied; "be assured that if such a misfortune befall +me, I will not impute it to you, but to myself." + +He further represented to me that when I had lost an eye I must not +hope to remain with them, if I were so disposed, because their number +was complete, and no addition could be made to it. I begged them, let +it cost what it would, to grant my request. + +The ten young men, perceiving that I was so fixed in my resolution, +took a sheep, killed it, and after they had taken off the skin, +presented me with a knife, telling me it would be useful to me on an +occasion, which they would soon explain. "We must sew you in this +skin," said they, "and then leave you; upon which a bird of monstrous +size, called a roc, will appear in the air, and, taking you for a +sheep, will pounce upon you, and soar with you to the sky. But let not +that alarm you; he will descend with you again, and lay you on the top +of a mountain. When you find yourself on the ground, cut the skin with +your knife, and throw it off. As soon as the roc sees you, he will fly +away for fear, and leave you at liberty. Do not stay, but walk on +till you come to a spacious palace, covered with plates of gold, large +emeralds, and other precious stones. Go up to the gate, which always +stands open, and walk in. We have each of us been in that castle, but +will tell you nothing of what we saw, or what befell us there; you +will learn by your own experience. All that we can inform you is, that +it has cost each of us our right eye; and the penance which you have +been witness to, is what we are obliged to observe in consequence of +having been there; but we cannot explain ourselves further." + +When the young man had thus spoken, I wrapped myself in the sheep's +skin, holding fast to the knife which was given me; and after the +young men had been at the trouble to sew the skin about me, they +retired into the hall, and left me alone. The roc they spoke of soon +arrived; he pounced upon me, took me in his talons like a sheep, and +carried me up to the summit of the mountain. + +When I found myself on the ground I cut the skin with the knife, and +throwing it off, the roc at the sight of me flew away. This roc is a +white bird of a monstrous size; his strength is such that he can lift +up elephants from the plains, and carry them to the tops of mountains, +where he feeds upon them. + +Being impatient to reach the palace, I lost no time, but made so much +haste that I got thither in half a day's journey; and I must say that +I found it surpassed the description they had given me of its +magnificence. + +The gate being open, I entered a square court, so large that there +were around it ninety-nine gates of sandalwood and wood of aloes, and +one of gold, without reckoning those of several superb staircases +that led to apartments above, besides many more which I could not see. + +I saw a door standing open just before me, through which I entered +into a large hall. Here I found forty young women, of such perfect +beauty as imagination could not surpass; they were all most +sumptuously appareled. As soon as they saw me they arose, and without +waiting my salutations, said to me, with tones of joy, "Welcome! +welcome! We have long expected you. You are at present our lord, +master, and judge, and we are your slaves, ready to obey your +commands." + +After these words were spoken, these ladies vied with each other in +their eager solicitude to do me all possible service. One brought hot +water to wash my feet; a second poured sweet-scented water on my +hands; others brought me all kinds of necessaries and change of +apparel; others again brought in a magnificent collation; and the rest +came, with glasses in their hands, to pour me delicious wines, all in +good order, and in the most charming manner possible. Some of the +ladies brought in musical instruments, and sang most delightful songs; +while others danced before me, two and two, with admirable grace. In +short, honored madam, I must tell you that I passed a whole year of +most pleasurable life with these forty ladies. At the end of that time +I was greatly surprised to see these ladies with great sorrow +impressed upon their countenances, and to hear them all say, "Adieu, +dear prince, adieu! For we must leave you." + +After they had spoken these words, they began to weep bitterly. + +"My dear ladies," said I, "have the kindness not to keep me any longer +in suspense. Tell me the cause of your sorrow." + +"Well," said one of them, "to satisfy you, we must acquaint you that +we are all princesses, daughters of kings. We live here together in +the manner you have seen; but at the end of every year we are obliged +to be absent forty days, for reasons we are not permitted to reveal; +and afterward we return again to this palace. Before we depart we will +leave you the keys of everything, especially those of the hundred +doors, where you will find enough to satisfy your curiosity, and to +relieve your solitude during our absence. But we entreat you to +forbear opening the golden door; for if you do, we shall never see you +again; and the apprehension of this augments our grief." + +We separated with much tenderness; and after I had embraced them all +they departed, and I remained alone in the castle. + +I determined not to forget the important advice they had given me, not +to open the golden door; but as I was permitted to satisfy my +curiosity in everything else, I took the first of the keys of the +other doors, which were hung in regular order. + +I opened the first door, and entered an orchard, which I believe the +universe could not equal. I could not imagine anything to surpass it. +The symmetry, the neatness, the admirable order of the trees, the +abundance and diversity of unknown fruits, their freshness and beauty, +delighted me. Nor must I neglect to inform you that this delightful +garden was watered in a most singular manner; small channels, cut out +with great art and regularity, and of different lengths, carried +water in considerable quantities to the roots of such trees as +required much moisture. Others conveyed it in smaller quantities to +those whose fruits were already formed; some carried still less; to +those whose fruits were swelling; and others carried only so much as +was just requisite to water those which had their fruits come to +perfection, and only wanted to be ripened. They far exceeded in size +the ordinary fruits in our gardens. I shut the door, and opened the +next. + +Instead of an orchard, I found here a flower garden, which was no less +extraordinary in its kind. The roses, jessamines, violets, daffodils, +hyacinths, anemones, tulips, pinks, lilies, and an infinite number of +flowers, which do not grow in other places except at certain times, +were there flourishing all at once; and nothing could be more +delicious than the fragrant smell which they emitted. + +I opened the third door, and found a large aviary, paved with marble +of several fine and uncommon colors. The trellis work was made of +sandalwood and wood of aloes. It contained a vast number of +nightingales, goldfinches, canary birds, larks, and other rare singing +birds, and the vessels that held their seed were of the most sparkling +jasper or agate. The sun went down, and I retired, charmed with the +chirping notes of the multitude of birds, who then began to perch upon +such places as suited them for repose during the night. I went to my +chamber, resolving on the following days to open all the rest of the +doors, excepting that of gold. + +The next day I opened the fourth door. I entered a large court, +surrounded with forty gates, all open, and through each of them was an +entrance into a treasury. The first was stored with heaps of pearls; +and, what is almost incredible, the number of those stones which are +most precious, and as large as pigeon's eggs, exceeded the number of +those of the ordinary size. In the second treasury,[24] there were +diamonds, carbuncles, and rubies; in the third, emeralds; in the +fourth, ingots of gold; in the fifth, money; in the sixth, ingots of +silver; and in the two following, money. The rest contained amethysts, +chrysolites, topazes, opals, turquoises, agate, jasper, cornelian, and +coral, of which there was a storehouse filled, not only with branches, +but whole trees. + +[Footnote 24: These tales were written shortly after the conquest of +Persia, the riches of which country may be reflected in these +narratives. "The naked robbers of the desert were suddenly enriched, +beyond the measure of their hope and knowledge. Each chamber revealed +a new chamber secreted with art, or ostentatiously displayed; the gold +and silver, the various wardrobes and precious furniture, surpassed +(says Abulfeda) the estimate of fancy or numbers, and another +historian defines the untold and almost infinite mass by the fabulous +computation of thousands of thousands of pieces of gold."--Gibbon's +_Decline and Fall._] + +Thus I went through, day by day, these various wonders. Thirty-nine +days afforded me but just as much time as was necessary to open +ninety-nine doors, and to admire all that presented itself to my view, +so that there was only the hundredth door left, which I was forbidden +to open. + +The fortieth day after the departure of those charming princesses +arrived, and had I but retained so much self-command as I ought to +have had, I should have been this day the happiest of all mankind, +whereas now I am the most unfortunate. But through my weakness, which +I shall ever repent, and the temptations of an evil spirit, I opened +that fatal door! But before I had moved my foot to enter, a smell, +pleasant enough but too powerful for my senses, made me faint away. +However, I soon recovered; but instead of taking warning from this +incident to close the door and restrain my curiosity, I entered, and +found myself in a spacious vaulted apartment, illuminated by several +large tapers placed in candlesticks of solid gold. + +Among the many objects that attracted my attention was a black horse, +of the most perfect symmetry and beauty. I approached in order the +better to observe him, and found he had on a saddle and bridle of +massive gold, curiously wrought. One part of his manger was filled +with clean barley, and the other with rose water. I laid hold of his +bridle, and led him out to view him by daylight. I mounted, and +endeavored to make him move; but finding he did not stir, I struck him +with a switch I had taken up in his magnificent stable. He had no +sooner felt the whip than he began to neigh in a most horrible manner, +and, extending wings, which I had not before perceived, flew up with +me into the air. My thoughts were fully occupied in keeping my seat; +and, considering the fear that had seized me, I sat well. At length he +directed his course toward the earth, and lighting upon the terrace of +a palace, without giving me time to dismount, he shook me out of the +saddle with such force as to throw me behind him, and with the end of +his tail he struck out my eye. + +Thus it was I became blind of one eye. I then recollected the +predictions of the ten young gentlemen. The horse again took wing, and +soon disappeared. I got up, much vexed at the misfortune I had brought +upon myself. I walked upon the terrace, covering my eye with one of my +hands, for it pained me exceedingly, and then descended, and entered +into a hall. I soon discovered, by the ten sofas in a circle and the +eleventh in the middle, lower than the rest, that I was in the castle +whence I had been carried by the roc. + +The ten young men seemed not at all surprised to see me, nor at the +loss of my eye; but said, "We are sorry that we cannot congratulate +you on your return, as we could wish; but we are not the cause of your +misfortune." + +"I should do you wrong," I replied, "to lay it to your charge; I have +only myself to accuse." + +"If," said they, "it be a subject of consolation to the afflicted to +know that others share their sufferings, you have in us this +alleviation of your misfortune. All that has happened to you we also +have endured; we each of us tasted the same pleasures during a year; +and we had still continued to enjoy them had we not opened the golden +door when the princesses were absent. You have been no wiser than we, +and have incurred the same punishment. We would gladly receive you +into our company, to join with us in the penance to which we are +bound, the duration of which we know not. But we have already stated +to you the reasons that render this impossible; depart, therefore, and +proceed to the court of Bagdad,[25] where you will meet with the +person who is to decide your destiny." + +[Footnote 25: Bagdad was founded in the 145th year of the Hejira or +flight of Mohammed to Medina, 767. It was destroyed by Hulakoo, +grandson of Gengis Khan, in the 656th of the Hejira, A.D. 1277, when +the dynasty of the Ambassides was terminated.] + +After they had explained to me the road I was to travel, I departed. + +On the road I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaven, and assumed a +calender's habit. I have had a long journey, but at last I arrived +this evening, and met these my brother calenders at the gate, being +strangers as well as myself. We were mutually surprised at one +another, to see that we were all blind of the same eye; but we had not +leisure to converse long on the subject of our misfortunes. We have +only had time enough to bring us hither, to implore those favors which +you have been generously pleased to grant us. + + * * * * * + +The third calender having finished this relation of his adventures, +Zobeide addressed him and his fellow-calenders thus: "Go wherever you +think proper; you are at liberty." + +But one of them answered, "Madam, we beg you to pardon our curiosity, +and permit us to hear the stories of your other guests who have not +yet spoken." + +Then the lady turned to the caliph, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour, +and said to them, "It is now your turn to relate your adventures; +therefore speak." + +The grand vizier, who had all along been the spokesman, answered +Zobeide: "Madam, in order to obey you, we need only repeat what we +have already said to the fair lady who opened for us the door. We are +merchants come to Bagdad to sell our merchandise, which lies in the +khan[26] where we lodge. We dined to-day with several other persons of +our condition, at a merchant's house of this city; who, after he had +treated us with choice dainties and excellent wines, sent for men and +women dancers and musicians. The great noise we made brought in the +watch, who arrested some of the company, but we had the good fortune +to escape. But it being already late, and the door of our khan shut +up, we knew not whither to retire. We chanced, as we passed along this +street, to hear music at your house, which made us determine to knock +at your gate. This is all the account that we can give you, in +obedience to your commands." + +[Footnote 26: "Khan, or caravansary, a large building of a +quadrangular form, being one story in height. The ground floor serves +for warehouses and stables, while the upper is used for lodgings. They +always contain a fountain, and have cook shops and other conveniences +attached to them in town. The erection of them is considered +meritorious both among Hindus and Mussulmans. They are erected on the +sides of public highways, and are then only a set of bare rooms and +outhouses."--_Popular Cyclopedia_, Vol. II, p. 108.] + +"Well, then," said Zobeide, "you shall all be equally obliged to me; I +pardon you all, provided you immediately depart!" + +Zobeide having given this command, the caliph, the vizier, Mesrour, +the three calenders, and the porter, departed; for the presence of the +seven slaves with their weapons awed them into silence. As soon as +they had quitted the house, and the gate was closed after them, the +caliph said to the calenders, without making himself known, "You, +gentlemen, who are newly come to town, which way do you design to go, +since it is not yet day?" + +"It is this," they replied, "that perplexes us." + +"Follow us," resumed the caliph, "and we will convey you out of +danger." + +He then whispered to the vizier: "Take them along with you, and +to-morrow morning bring them to me." + +The vizier Giafar took the three calenders along with him; the porter +went to his quarters, and the caliph and Mesrour returned to the +palace. + +On the following morning, as the day dawned, the sultan Haroun al +Raschid arose and went to his council chamber, and sat upon his +throne. The grand vizier entered soon after, and made his obeisance. + +"Vizier," said the caliph, "go, bring those ladies and the calenders +at the same time; make haste, and remember that I impatiently expect +your return." + +The vizier, who knew his master's quick and fiery temper, hastened to +obey, and conducted them to the palace with so much expedition that +the caliph was much pleased. + +When the ladies had arrived the caliph turned toward them and said, "I +was last night in your house, disguised in a merchant's habit; but I +am at present Haroun al Raschid, the fifth caliph of the glorious +house of Abbas, and hold the place of our great prophet. I have sent +for you only to know who you are, and to ask for what reason one of +you, after severely whipping the two black dogs, wept with them. And I +am no less curious to know why another of you has her bosom so full of +scars." + +Upon hearing these words, Zobeide thus related her story: + + +THE STORY OF ZOBEIDE + +Commander of the Faithful, my story is truly wonderful. The two black +dogs and myself are sisters by the same father and mother. The two +ladies who are now here are also my sisters, but by another mother. +After our father's death, the property that he left was equally +divided among us. My two half sisters left me, that they might live +with their mother. My two sisters and myself resided with our own +mother. At her death she left us three thousand sequins each. Shortly +after my sisters had received their portions, they married; but their +husbands, having spent all their fortunes, found some pretext for +divorcing them, and put them away. I received them into my house, and +gave them[27] a share of all my goods. At the end of a twelvemonth my +sisters again resolved to marry, and did so. After some months were +passed, they returned again in the same sad condition; and as they +accused themselves a thousand times, I again forgave them, and +admitted them to live with me as before, and we dwelt together for the +space of a year. After this I determined to engage in a commercial +speculation. For this purpose I went with my two sisters to +Bussorah,[28] where I bought a ship ready fitted for sea, and laded +her with such merchandise[29] as I had carried with me from Bagdad. We +set sail with a fair wind, and soon cleared the Persian Gulf; when we +had reached the open sea we steered our course to the Indies, and on +the twentieth day saw land. It was a very high mountain, at the bottom +of which we perceived a great town; having a fresh gale, we soon +reached the harbor, and cast anchor. + +[Footnote 27: "The giving of alms is commanded in the Koran. Hasan, +the son of Ali, grandson of Mohammed, is related to have thrice in his +life divided his substance equally between himself and the +poor."--Sale's _Preliminary Dissertation_, p. 110.] + +[Footnote 28: "At the distance of fourscore miles from the Persian +Gulf, the Euphrates and Tigris unite in a broad and direct current. In +the midway, between the junction and the mouth of these famous +streams, the new settlement of Bussorah was planted on the western +bank; the first colony was composed of eight hundred Moslems; but the +influence of the situation soon reared a flourishing and populous +capital. The air, though excessively hot, is pure and healthy; the +meadows are filled with palm trees and cattle; and one of the adjacent +valleys has been celebrated among the four paradises or gardens of +Asia. Under the first caliphs, the jurisdiction of this Arab colony +extended over the southern provinces of Persia; the city has been +sanctified by the tombs of the companions and martyrs and the vessels +of Europe still frequent the port of Bussorah, as a convenient station +and passage of the Indian trade."--Gibbon's _Decline and Fall_, 41, +C.] + +[Footnote 29: Bussorah was built by the caliph Omar. The city has four +kinds of inhabitants--Jews, Persians, Mohammedans, and Christians. It +is looked upon by the Arabs as one of the most delightful spots in +Asia. The commerce of Bussorah consisted in the interchange of rice, +sugar, spices from Ceylon, coarse white and blue cottons from +Coromandel, cardamom, pepper, sandalwood from Malabar, gold and silver +stuffs, brocades, turbans, shawls, indigo from Surat, pearls from +Bahara, coffee from Mocha, iron, lead, woolen cloths, etc.] + +I had not patience to wait till my sisters were dressed to go along +with me, but went ashore alone in the boat. Making directly to the +gate of the town, I saw there a great number of men upon guard, some +sitting, and others standing with weapons in their hands; and they +had all such dreadful countenances that I was greatly alarmed; but +perceiving they remained stationary, and did not so much as move their +eyes, I took courage and went nearer, when I found they were all +turned into stone. I entered the town, and passed through several +streets, where at different intervals stood men in various attitudes, +but all motionless and petrified. In the quarter inhabited by the +merchants I found most of the shops open; here I likewise found the +people petrified.[30] + +[Footnote 30: "There is a city in Upper Egypt (Ishmonie), called the +petrified city, on account of a great number of statues of men, women, +and children, and other animals, which are said to be seen thereat +this day; all which, as it is believed by the inhabitants, were once +animated beings, but were miraculously changed into stone in all the +various positions of falling, standing, eating, sitting, which they +acted at the instant of their supposed transubstantiation. We did not +fail to inquire after these things, and desired to have a sight of +them; but they told us they were in a certain part, pointing westward, +but were too sacred to be seen by any except believers."--Perry's +_View of the Levant._] + +Having reached a vast square, in the heart of the city, I perceived a +large folding gate, covered with plates of gold, which stood open; a +curtain of silk stuff seemed to be drawn before it; a lamp hung over +the entrance. After I had surveyed the building, I made no doubt but +it was the palace of the prince who reigned over that country; and +being much astonished that I had not met with one living creature, I +approached in hopes of finding some. I lifted up the curtain, and was +surprised at beholding no one but the guards in the vestibule, all +petrified. + +I came to a large court. I went from thence into a room richly +furnished, where I perceived a lady turned into a statue of stone. The +crown of gold on her head, and a necklace of pearls about her neck, +each of them as large as a nut, proclaimed her to be the queen. I +quitted the chamber where the petrified queen was, and passed through +several other apartments richly furnished, and at last came into a +large room where there was a throne of massy gold, raised several +steps above the floor, and enriched with large enchased emeralds, and +upon the throne there was a bed of rich stuff embroidered with pearls. +What surprised me most was a sparkling light which came from above the +bed. Being curious to know whence it proceeded, I ascended the steps, +and, lifting up my head, saw a diamond as large as the egg of an +ostrich, lying upon a low stool; it was so pure that I could not find +the least blemish in it, and it sparkled with so much brilliancy that +when I saw it by daylight I could not endure its luster. + +At the head of the bed there stood on each side a lighted flambeau, +but for what use I could not comprehend; however, it made me imagine +that there must be some one living in the place; for I could not +believe that the torches continued thus burning of themselves. + +The doors being all open, I surveyed some other apartments, that were +as beautiful as those I had already seen. In short, the wonders that +everywhere appeared so wholly engrossed my attention that I forgot my +ship and my sisters, and thought of nothing but gratifying my +curiosity. In the meantime night came on, and I tried to return by the +way I had entered, but I could not find it; I lost myself among the +apartments; and perceiving I was come back again to the large room, +where the throne, the couch, the large diamond, and the torches stood, +I resolved to take my night's lodging there, and to depart the next +morning early, to get aboard my ship. I laid myself down upon a +costly couch, not without some dread to be alone in a desolate place; +and this fear hindered my sleep. + +About midnight I heard a man reading the Koran,[31] in the same tone +as it is read in our mosques. I immediately arose, and taking a torch +in my hand passed from one chamber to another, on that side from +whence the voice proceeded, until looking through a window I found it +to be an oratory. It had, as we have in our mosques, a niche,[32] to +direct us whither we are to turn to say our prayers; there were also +lamps hung up, and two candlesticks with large tapers of white wax +burning. + +[Footnote 31: Koran (derived from the word Karaa, to read) signifies +"the Reading--that which ought to be read." It is the collection of +revelations supposed to be given from heaven to Mohammed during a +period of twenty-three years. Some were given at Mecca, and some at +Medina. Each was regarded by some as a mystery full of divine meaning. +It is divided into thirty parts; and as each mosque has thirty +readers, it is read through once a day. These readers chant it in long +lines with rhythmical ending, and in the absence of definite vowels +they alone know the right pronunciation of the Koran.--Sale's +_Preliminary Dissertation_, p. 56.] + +[Footnote 32: This is the _kaaba_ or _kebla_, a sacred stone in the +center of the temple at Mecca, over which is a lofty building, from +which the name is by some said to be derived--Caaba, high. Mr. +Ferguson, in his account of "The Holy Sepulcher," thus describes it: +"The precept of the Koran is, that all men, when they pray, shall turn +toward the _kaaba_, or holy house, at Mecca; and consequently +throughout the Moslem world, indicators have been put up to enable the +Faithful to fulfill this condition. In India they face west, in +Barbary east, in Syria south. It is true that when rich men, or kings, +built mosques, they frequently covered the face of this wall with +arcades, to shelter the worshiper from the sun or rain. They inclosed +it in a court that his meditations might not be disturbed by the +noises of the outside world. They provided it with fountains, that he +might perform the required ablutions before prayer. But still the +essential part of the mosques is the _mihrab_ or niche, which points +toward Mecca, and toward which, when he bows, the worshiper knows that +the _kaaba_ also is before him." The holy house erected over the +_kaaba_ was decorated annually with rich tapestries and a deep golden +band, at the cost of the caliphs.] + +I saw a little carpet laid down like those we have to kneel upon when +we say our prayers, and a comely young man sat on this carpet, with +great devotion reading the Koran, which lay before him on a desk. At +this sight I was transported with admiration. I wondered how it came +to pass that he should be the only living creature in a town where +all the people were turned into stone, and I do not doubt but there +was something in the circumstance very extraordinary. + +The door being only half shut I opened it, went in, and standing +upright before the niche, I exclaimed, "Bismillah![33] Praise be to +God." The young man turned toward me, and, having saluted me, inquired +what had brought me to this desolate city. I told him in a few words +my history, and I prayed him to tell me why he alone was left alive in +the midst of such terrible desolation. At these words he shut the +Koran, put it into a rich case, and laid it in the niche. Then he thus +addressed me: + +[Footnote 33: Bismillah. All the chapters of the Koran, except nine, +begin with this word. Its meaning is, "In the name of the merciful +God." It is said to be frequently used in conversation by the +Arabs.--Sale's _Preliminary Dissertation_, p. 153.] + +"Know that this city was the metropolis of a mighty kingdom, over +which the sultan, who was my father, reigned. That prince, his whole +court, the inhabitants of the city, and all his other subjects, were +magi, worshipers of fire instead of God. + +"But though I was born of an idolatrous father and mother I had the +good fortune in my youth to have a nurse who was a good Mussulman, +believing in God and in His prophet. 'Dear Prince,' would she +oftentimes say, 'there is but one true God; take heed that you do not +acknowledge and adore any other.' She taught me to read Arabic, and +the book she gave me to study was the Koran. As soon as I was capable +of understanding it, she explained to me all the passages of this +excellent book, unknown to my father or any other person. She died, +but not before she had perfectly instructed me in the Mussulman +religion. After her death, I persisted in worshiping according to its +directions; and I abhor the adoration of fire. + +"About three years and some months ago, a thundering voice was +suddenly sounded so distinctly through the whole city that nobody +could miss hearing it. The words were these: 'Inhabitants, abandon the +worship of fire, and worship the only God who shows mercy.' This voice +was heard three years successively, but no one was converted. On the +last day of that year, at the break of day, all the inhabitants were +changed in an instant into stone, each one in the condition and +posture in which he happened to be. The sultan, my father, and the +queen, my mother, shared the same fate. + +"I am the only person who did not suffer under that heavy judgment, +and ever since I have continued to serve God with more fervency than +before. I am persuaded, dear lady, that He has sent you hither for my +comfort, for which I render Him infinite thanks, for I must own that I +have become weary of this solitary life." + +On hearing these words, I said, "Prince, who can doubt that Providence +has brought me into your port, to afford you an opportunity of +withdrawing from this dismal place? I am a lady at Bagdad, where I +have considerable property; and I dare engage to promise you sanctuary +there, until the mighty Commander of the Faithful, caliph of our +prophet, whom you acknowledge, shows you the honor that is due to your +merit. This renowned prince lives at Bagdad, and as soon as he is +informed of your arrival in his capital you will find it not in vain +to implore his assistance. Stay no longer in a city where you can +only renew your grief; my vessel is at your service, which you may +absolutely command as you shall think fit." He accepted the offer, and +as soon as it was day we left the palace, and went aboard my ship, +where we found my sisters, the captain, and the slaves, all much +troubled at my absence. After I had presented my sisters to the +prince, I told them what had hindered my return the day before, how I +had met with the young prince, his story, and the cause of the +desolation of so fine a city. + +The seamen were taken up several days in unloading the merchandise I +brought with me, and embarking in its stead many of the precious +things in the palace, especially jewels, gold, and money. We left the +furniture and goods, which consisted of an infinite quantity of silver +vessels, because our vessel could not carry it, for it would have +required several vessels more to convey to Bagdad all the riches that +we might have taken with us. + +After we had laden the vessel with what we thought most desirable, we +took such provisions and water aboard as were necessary for our +voyage. At last we set sail with a favorable wind. + +The young prince, my sisters, and myself passed our time very +agreeably. But, alas! this good understanding did not last long, for +my sisters grew jealous of the friendship between the prince and +myself, and maliciously asked me, one day, what we should do with him +when we came to Bagdad. Resolving to put this question off with a +joke, I answered, "I will take him for my husband." Upon that, turning +myself to the prince, I said, "Sir, I humbly beg of you to give your +consent, for as soon as we come to Bagdad I design to offer you my +person to be your slave, to do you all the service that is in my +power, and to resign myself wholly to your commands." + +The prince replied, "I know not, madam, whether you be in jest or no; +but for my part, I seriously declare before these ladies, your +sisters, that from this moment I heartily accept your offer, not with +any intention to have you as a slave, but as my lady and wife." At +these words my sisters changed color, and I could perceive afterward +that they did not love me as before. + +We entered the Persian Gulf, and had come within a short distance of +Bussorah (where I hoped, considering the fair wind, we might have +arrived the day following), when, in the night, while I was asleep, my +sisters watched their opportunity and threw me overboard. They did the +same to the prince, who was drowned. I floated some minutes on the +water, and by good fortune, or rather miracle, I felt ground. I went +toward a dark spot, that, by what I could discern, seemed to be land, +and which, when day appeared, I found to be a desert island, lying +about twenty miles from Bussorah. I soon dried my clothes in the sun, +and as I walked along I found several kinds of fruit, and likewise +fresh water, which gave me some hopes of preserving my life. + +I had just laid myself down to rest in a shade, when I perceived a +very large winged serpent coming toward me, with an irregular waving +movement, and hanging out its tongue, which induced me to conclude it +had received some injury. I instantly arose, and perceived that it was +pursued by a larger serpent which had hold of its tail, and was +endeavoring to devour it. This perilous situation of the first serpent +excited my pity; and instead of retreating, I took up a stone that +lay near me, and threw it with all my strength at its pursuer, whom I +hit upon the head and killed. The other, finding itself at liberty, +took wing and flew away. I looked after it for some time till it +disappeared. I then sought another shady spot for repose, and fell +asleep. + +Judge what was my surprise, when I awoke, to see standing by me a +black woman of lively and agreeable features, who held in her hand two +dogs of the same color, fastened together. I sat up, and asked her who +she was. + +"I am," said she, "the serpent whom you lately delivered from my +mortal enemy, and I wish to requite the important services you have +rendered me. These two black dogs are your sisters, whom I have +transformed into this shape. But this punishment will not suffice; and +my will is that you treat them hereafter in the way I shall direct." + +As soon as she had thus spoken the fairy took me under one of her +arms, and the two black dogs under the other, and conveyed us to my +house in Bagdad, where I found in my storehouses all the riches with +which my vessel had been laden. Before she left me, she delivered to +me the two dogs, and said, "If you would not be changed into a similar +form, I command you to give each of your sisters every night one +hundred lashes with a rod, as the punishment of the crime they have +committed against yourself and the young prince, whom they have +drowned." I was forced to promise obedience. Since that time I have +whipped them every night, though with regret, whereof your majesty has +been a witness. My tears testify with how much sorrow and reluctance I +perform this painful duty. If there be anything else relating to +myself that you desire to know, my sister Amina will give you full +information in the relation of her story. + + * * * * * + +After the caliph had heard Zobeide with much astonishment, he desired +his grand vizier to request Amina to acquaint him wherefore her breast +was disfigured with so many scars. + + +THE HISTORY OF AMINA + +Commander of the Faithful, that I may not repeat those things which +your majesty has already been informed of by my sister, I will only +mention that my mother, having taken a house to pass her widowhood in +private, first bestowed me in marriage on the heir of one of the +richest men in this city. + +I had not been married quite a year before my husband died. I thus +became a widow, and was in possession of all his property, which +amounted to above ninety thousand sequins. When the first six months +of my mourning was over, I caused to be made for me ten different +dresses, of such magnificence that each came to a thousand sequins; +and at the end of the year I began to wear them. + +One day, while I was alone, a lady[34] desired to speak to me. I gave +orders that she should be admitted. She was a very old woman. She +saluted me by kissing the ground, and said to me, kneeling, "Dear +lady, the confidence I have in your charity makes me thus bold. I +have an orphan daughter, whose wedding is on this night. She and I are +both strangers, and have no acquaintance in this town, which much +perplexes me. Therefore, most beautiful lady, if you would vouchsafe +to honor the wedding with your presence, we shall be infinitely +obliged, because the family with whom we shall be allied will then +know that we are not regarded here as unworthy and despised persons. +But, alas, madam, if you refuse this request, how great will be our +mortification! We know not where else to apply." + +[Footnote 34: For the choice of a wife a man generally relies on his +mother, or some other near relation, or a professional female +betrother (who is called, _khatebeh_), for there are women who perform +this office for hire.--Lane's Notes to the _Arabian Nights_, Vol. I, +iv, p. 285.] + +This poor woman's address, which she spoke with tears, moved my +compassion. + +"Good woman," said I, "do not afflict yourself; I will grant you the +favor you desire. Tell me whither I must go, and I will meet you as +soon as I am dressed." The old woman was so transported with joy at my +answer that she kissed my feet before I had time to prevent her. + +"Compassionate lady," said she, rising, "God will reward the kindness +you have shown to your servants, and make your heart as joyful as you +have made theirs. You need not at present trouble yourself; I will +call for you in the evening." + +As soon as she was gone I took the suit I liked best, with a necklace +of large pearls, bracelets, pendants for my ears, and rings set with +the finest and most sparkling diamonds, and prepared to attend the +ceremony. + +When the night closed in, the old woman called upon me, with a +countenance full of joy, and said, "Dear lady, the relations of my +son-in-law, who are the principal ladies of the city, are now met +together. You may come when you please; I am ready to conduct you." + +We immediately set out; she walked before me, and I was followed by a +number of my women and slaves, richly robed for the occasion. We +stopped in a wide street, newly swept and watered, at a spacious gate +with a lamp, by the light of which I read this inscription, in golden +letters, over the entrance: "This is the continual abode of pleasure +and joy." + +The old woman knocked, and the gate was opened immediately. + +I was conducted toward the lower end of the court, into a large hall, +where I was received by a young lady of exceeding beauty. She drew +near, and after having embraced me, made me sit down by her upon a +sofa, on which was raised a throne of precious wood set with diamonds. + +"Madam," said she, "you are brought hither to assist at a wedding; but +I hope it will be a different wedding from what you expected. I have a +brother, one of the handsomest men in the world. His fate depends +wholly upon you, and he will be the unhappiest of men if you do not +take pity on him. If my prayers, madam, can prevail, I shall join them +with his, and humbly beg you will not refuse the proposal of being his +wife." + +After the death of my husband I had not thought of marrying again; but +I had no power to refuse the solicitation of so charming a lady. As +soon as I had given consent by my silence, accompanied with a blush, +the young lady clapped her hands, and immediately a curtain was +withdrawn, from behind which came a young man of so majestic an air, +and so graceful a countenance, that I thought myself happy to have +made such a choice. He sat down by me, and I found from his +conversation that his merits far exceeded the account of him given by +his sister. + +When she perceived that we were satisfied with one another, she +clapped her hands a second time, and a cadi[35] with four witnesses, +entered, who wrote and signed our contract of marriage. + +[Footnote 35: Marriage among the Mohammedans is an exclusively civil +ceremony; and therefore the cadi, a civil judge, and not an imaun, or +minister of religion, was summoned.] + +There was only one condition that my new husband imposed upon me, that +I should not be seen by nor speak to any other man but himself; and he +vowed to me that, if I complied in this respect, I should have no +reason to complain of him. Our marriage was concluded and finished +after this manner; so I became the principal actress in a wedding to +which I had only been invited as a guest. + +About a month after our marriage, having occasion for some stuffs, I +asked my husband's permission to go out to buy them, which he granted; +and I took with me the old woman of whom I spoke before, she being one +of the family, and two of my own female slaves. + +When we came to the street where the merchants reside, the old woman +said, "Dear mistress, since you want silk stuffs, I must take you to a +young merchant of my acquaintance, who has a great variety; and that +you may not fatigue yourself by running from shop to shop, I can +assure you that you will find in his what no other can furnish." I was +easily persuaded, and we entered a shop belonging to a young merchant. +I sat down, and bade the old woman desire him to show me the finest +silk stuffs he had. The woman desired me to speak myself; but I told +her it was one of the articles of my marriage contract not to speak +to any man but my husband, which I ought to keep. + +The merchant showed me several stuffs, of which one pleased me better +than the rest; and I bade her ask the price. He answered the old +woman: "I will not sell it for gold or money; but I will make her a +present of it, if she will give me leave to kiss her cheek." + +I ordered the old woman to tell him that he was very rude to propose +such a freedom. But instead of obeying me, she said, "What the +merchant desires of you is no such great matter; you need not speak, +but only present him your cheek." + +The stuff pleased me so much that I was foolish enough to take her +advice. The old woman and my slaves stood up, that nobody might see, +and I put up my veil;[36] but instead of kissing me, the merchant bit +me so violently as to draw blood. + +[Footnote 36: "No woman, of what rank soever, is permitted to go into +the streets without two muslins; one that covers her face all but her +eyes, and another that hides the whole dress of her head, and hangs +halfway down her back. Their shapes are also wholly concealed by a +thing they call a _ferigee_, which no woman appears without. This has +straight sleeves, that reach to their finger ends, and it laps all +round them, not unlike a riding-hood. In winter it is of cloth, and in +summer, of plain stuff or silk."--Lady M. W. Montague's _Letters_, +Vol. VII, p. 373.] + +The pain and my surprise were so great that I fell down in a swoon, +and continued insensible so long that the merchant had time to escape. +When I came to myself I found my cheek covered with blood. The old +woman and my slaves took care to cover it with my veil, and the people +who came about us could not perceive it, but supposed I had only had a +fainting fit. + +The old woman who accompanied me being extremely troubled at this +accident, endeavored to comfort me. + +"My dear mistress," said she, "I beg your pardon, for I am the cause +of this misfortune, having brought you to this merchant, because he +is my countryman; but I never thought he would be guilty of such a +villainous action. But do not grieve. Let us hasten home, and I will +apply a remedy that shall in three days so perfectly cure you that not +the least mark shall be visible." + +The pain had made me so weak that I was scarcely able to walk. But at +last I got home, where I again fainted, as I went into my chamber. +Meanwhile, the old woman applied her remedy. I came to myself, and +went to bed. + +My husband came to me at night, and seeing my head bound up, asked me +the reason. I told him I had the headache, which I hoped would have +satisfied him; but he took a candle, and saw my cheek was hurt. + +"How comes this wound?" he said. + +Though I did not consider myself as guilty of any great offense, yet I +could not think of owning the truth. Besides, to make such an avowal +to a husband, I considered as somewhat indecorous. + +I therefore said, "That as I was going, under his permission, to +purchase a silk stuff, a camel,[37] carrying a load of wood, came so +near to me in a narrow street, that one of the sticks grazed my cheek, +but had not done me much hurt." + +"If that is the case," said my husband, "to-morrow morning, before +sunrise, the grand vizier Giafar shall be informed of this insolence, +and cause all the camel drivers to be put to death." + +"Pray, sir," said I, "let me beg of you to pardon them, for they are +not guilty." + +[Footnote 37: The streets of Eastern cities are often so narrow as to +be blocked up with a wide camel load, or to prevent two horsemen +riding abreast. This is the cause of those footmen who run before +great men to prepare the way for them.] + +"How, madam," he demanded, "what, then, am I to believe? Speak; for I +am resolved to know the truth from your own mouth." + +"Sir," I replied, "I was taken with a giddiness, and fell down, and +that is the whole matter." + +At these words my husband lost all patience. + +"I have," said he, "too long listened to your tales." + +As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and in came three slaves. "Strike," +said he; "cut her in two, and then throw her into the Tigris. This is +the punishment I inflict on those to whom I have given my heart, when +they falsify their promise." + +I had recourse to entreaties and prayers; but I supplicated in vain, +when the old woman, who had been his nurse, coming in just at that +moment, fell down upon her knees and endeavored to appease his wrath. + +"My son," said she, "since I have been your nurse, and brought you up, +let me beg you to consider, 'he who kills shall be killed,' and that +you will stain your reputation and forfeit the esteem of mankind." + +She spoke these words in such an affecting manner, accompanied with +tears, that she prevailed upon him at last to abandon his purpose. + +"Well, then," said he to his nurse, "for your sake I will spare her +life; but she shall bear about her person some marks to make her +remember her offense." + +When he had thus spoken, one of the slaves, by his order, gave me upon +my sides and breast so many blows[38] with a little cane, that he +tore away both skin and flesh, which threw me into a swoon. In this +state he caused the same slaves, the executioners of his will, to +carry me into the house, where the old woman took care of me. I kept +my bed for four months. At last I recovered. The scars which, contrary +to my wish, you saw yesterday, have remained ever since. + +[Footnote 38: The Mussulmans are allowed by the Koran to beat their +wives, so long as they do not make a bruise. The husband on this +occasion must have broken the law. + +Some such permission was given by an English judge, Sir John Buller; +who declared the stick used must not be thicker than his thumb, from +whence he obtained the sobriquet of "Thumb Buller."] + +As soon as I was able to walk and go abroad, I resolved to retire to +the house which was left me by my first husband, but I could not find +the site whereon it stood, as my second husband had caused it to be +leveled with the ground. + +Being thus left destitute and helpless, I had recourse to my dear +sister Zobeide. She received me with her accustomed goodness, and +advised me to bear with patience my affliction, from which, she said, +none are free. In confirmation of her remark, she gave me an account +of the loss of the young prince her husband, occasioned by the +jealousy of her two sisters. She told me also by what accident they +were transformed into dogs; and in the last place, after a thousand +testimonials of her love toward me, she introduced me to my youngest +sister, who had likewise taken sanctuary with her after the death of +her mother; and we have continued to live together in the house in +which we received the guests whom your highness found assembled on +your visit last night. + + * * * * * + +The caliph publicly expressed his admiration of what he had heard, and +inquired of Zobeide, "Madam, did not this fairy whom you delivered, +and who imposed such a rigorous command upon you, tell you where her +place of abode was, or that she would restore your sisters to their +natural shape?" + +"Commander of the Faithful," answered Zobeide, "the fairy did leave +with me a bundle of hair, saying that her presence would one day be of +use to me; and then, if I only burned two tufts of this hair, she +would be with me in a moment." + +"Madam," demanded the caliph, "where is the bundle of hair?" + +She answered, "Ever since that time I have been so careful of it that +I always carry it about me." + +Upon which she pulled it out of the case which contained it, and +showed it to him. + +"Well, then," said the caliph, "let us bring the fairy hither; you +could not call her in a better time, for I long to see her." + +Zobeide having consented, fire was brought in, and she threw the whole +bundle of hair into it. The palace at that instant began to shake, and +the fairy appeared before the caliph in the form of a lady very richly +dressed. + +"Commander of the Faithful," said she to the prince, "you see I am +ready to receive your commands. At your wish I will not only restore +these two sisters to their former shape, but I will also cure this +lady of her scars, and tell you who it was that abused her." + +The caliph sent for the two dogs from Zobeide's house, and when they +came a glass of water was brought to the fairy by her desire. She +pronounced over it some words, which nobody understood; then, throwing +some part of it upon Amina and the rest upon the dogs, the latter +became two ladies of surprising beauty, and the scars that were upon +Amina disappeared. + +After this the fairy said to the caliph, "Commander of the Faithful, I +must now discover to you the unknown husband you inquire after. He is +Prince Amin, your eldest son, who by stratagem brought this lady to +his house, where he married her. As to the blows he caused to be given +her, he is in some measure excusable; for this lady, his spouse, by +the excuses she made, led him to believe she was more in fault than +she really was." + +At these words she saluted the caliph, and vanished. + +The caliph, much satisfied with the changes that had happened through +his means, acted in such a manner as will perpetuate his memory to all +ages. First, he sent for his son Amin, and told him that he was +informed of his secret marriage and how he had ill-treated Amina upon +a very slight cause. Upon this, the prince, upon his father's +commands, received her again immediately. + +After which Haroun al Raschid declared that he would give his own +heart and hand to Zobeide, and offered the other three sisters to the +calenders, sons of sultans, who accepted them for their brides with +much joy. The caliph assigned each of them a magnificent palace in the +city of Bagdad, promoted them to the highest dignities of his empire, +and admitted them to his councils. + +The chief cadi of Bagdad being called, with witnesses, he wrote the +contracts of marriage; and the caliph, in promoting by his patronage +the happiness of many persons who had suffered such incredible +calamities, drew a thousand blessings upon himself. + + +STORY OF THE THREE SISTERS + +There was an emperor of Persia, named Khoonoo-shah. He often walked in +disguise through the city, attended by a trusty minister, when he met +with many adventures. On one of these occasions, as he was passing +through a street in that part of the town inhabited only by the meaner +sort, he heard some people talking very loud; and going close to the +house whence the noise proceeded, he perceived a light, and three +sisters sitting on a sofa, conversing together after supper. By what +the eldest said, he presently understood the subject of their +conversation was wishes: "For," said she, "since we have got upon +wishes, mine shall be to have the sultan's baker for my husband, for +then I shall eat my fill of that bread which by way of excellence is +called the sultan's. Let us see if your tastes are as good as mine." + +"For my part," replied the second sister, "I wish I was wife to the +sultan's chief cook, for then I should eat of the most excellent +dishes; and, as I believe the sultan's bread is common in the palace, +I should not want any of that. Therefore, you see," addressing herself +to her eldest sister, "that I have better taste than you." + +The youngest sister, who was very beautiful, and had more charms and +wit than the two elder, spoke in her turn: "For my part, sisters," +said she, "I shall not limit my desires to such trifles, but take a +higher flight; and since we are upon wishing, I wish to be the +emperor's queen consort. I would make him father of a prince whose +hair should be gold on one side of his head, and silver on the other; +when he cried, the tears from his eyes should be pearl; and when he +smiled, his vermilion lips should look like a rose-bud fresh blown." + +The three sisters' wishes, particularly that of the youngest, seemed +so singular to the sultan that he resolved to gratify them in their +desires; but without communicating his design to his grand vizier he +charged him only to take notice of the house, and bring the three +sisters before him the following day. + +The grand vizier, in executing the emperor's orders, would give the +sisters but just time to dress themselves to appear before him, +without telling them the reason. He brought them to the palace and +presented them to the emperor, who said to them, "Do you remember the +wishes you expressed last night, when you were all in so pleasant a +mood? Speak the truth; I must know what they were." + +At these unexpected words of the emperor the three sisters were much +confounded. They cast down their eyes and blushed. Modesty, and fear +lest they might have offended the emperor by their conversation, kept +them silent. + +The emperor, perceiving their confusion, said, to encourage them, +"Fear nothing; I did not send for you to distress you; and since I see +that, without my intending it, is the effect of the question I asked, +as I know the wish of each I will relieve you from your fears. You," +added he, "who wished to be my wife shall have your desire this day; +and you," continued he, addressing himself to the two elder sisters, +"shall also be married, to my chief baker and cook." + +[Illustration: _The gardener, with a rake which he had in his hand, +drew the basket to the side of the canal Page 122_] + +The nuptials were all celebrated that day, as the emperor had +resolved, but in a different manner. The youngest sister's were +solemnized with all the rejoicings usual at the marriages of the +emperors of Persia; and those of the other two sisters according to +the quality and distinction of their husbands; the one as the sultan's +chief baker, and the other as head cook. + +The two elder sisters felt strongly the disproportion of their +marriages to that of their younger sister. This consideration made +them far from being content, though they were arrived at the utmost +height of their late wishes, and much beyond their hopes. They gave +themselves up to an excess of jealousy, and frequently met together to +consult how they might revenge themselves on the queen. They proposed +a great many ways, which they could not accomplish, but dissimulated +all the time to flatter the queen with every demonstration of +affection and respect. + +Some months after her marriage, the queen gave birth to a young +prince, as bright as the day; but her sisters, to whom the child was +given at his birth, wrapped him up in a basket and floated it away on +a canal that ran near the palace, and declared that the queen had +given birth to a little dog. This made the emperor very angry. + +In the meantime, the basket in which the little prince was exposed was +carried by the stream toward the garden of the palace. By chance the +intendant of the emperor's gardens, one of the principal and most +considerable officers of the kingdom, was walking by the side of this +canal, and perceiving a basket floating called to a gardener, who was +not far off, to bring it to shore that he might see what it contained. +The gardener, with a rake which he had in his hand, drew the basket +to the side of the canal, took it up, and gave it to him. + +The intendant of the gardens was extremely surprised to see in the +basket a child, which, though he knew it could be but just born, had +very fine features. This officer had been married several years, but +though he had always been desirous of having children, Heaven had +never blessed him with any. He made the gardener follow him with the +child; and when he came to his own house, which was situated at the +entrance into the gardens of the palace, went into his wife's +apartment. "Wife," said he, "as we have no children of our own, God +hath sent us one. I recommend him to you; provide him a nurse, and +take as much care of him as if he were our own son; for, from this +moment, I acknowledge him as such." The intendant's wife received the +child with great joy. + +The following year the queen consort gave birth to another prince, on +whom the unnatural sisters had no more compassion than on his brother; +but exposed him likewise in a basket, and set him adrift in the canal, +pretending this time that the sultaness was delivered of a cat. It was +happy also for this child that the intendant of the gardens was +walking by the canal side. He carried this child to his wife, and +charged her to take as much care of it as of the former, which was as +agreeable to her inclination as it was to that of the intendant. + +This time the Emperor of Persia was more enraged against the queen +than before, and she had felt the effects of his anger, as the grand +vizier's remonstrances had not prevailed. + +The next year the queen gave birth to a princess, which innocent babe +underwent the same fate as the princes her brothers; for the two +sisters, being determined not to desist from their detestable schemes +till they had seen the queen their younger sister at least cast off, +turned out, and humbled, exposed this infant also on the canal. But +the princess, as had been the two princes her brothers, preserved from +death by the compassion and charity of the intendant of the gardens. + +To this inhumanity the two sisters added a lie and deceit, as before. +They procured a piece of wood, of which they said the queen had been +delivered. + +Khoonoo-shah could no longer contain himself at this third +disappointment. He ordered a small shed to be built near the chief +mosque, and the queen to be confined in it, so that she might be +subjected to the scorn of those who passed by; which usage, as she did +not deserve it, she bore with a patient resignation that excited the +admiration as well as compassion of those who judged of things better +than the vulgar. + +The two princes and the princess were in the meantime nursed and +brought up by the intendant of the gardens and his wife with all the +tenderness of a father and mother; and as they advanced in age, they +all showed marks of superior dignity, by a certain air which could +only belong to exalted birth. All this increased the affection of the +intendant and his wife, who called the eldest prince Bahman, and the +second Perviz, both of them names of the most ancient emperors of +Persia, and the princess Perie-zadeh, which name also had been borne +by several queens and princesses of the kingdom.[39] + +[Footnote 39: Parizadeh, the Parisatis of the Greeks, signifies born +of a fairy.--D'Herbelot.] + +As soon as the two princes were old enough, the intendant provided +proper masters to teach them to read and write; and the princess, +their sister, who was often with them--showing a great desire to +learn--the intendant, pleased with her quickness, employed the same +master to teach her also. Her emulation, vivacity, and wit made her in +a little time as proficient as her brothers. At the hours of +recreation, the princess learned to sing and to play upon all sorts of +instruments; and when the princes were learning to ride, she would not +permit them to have that advantage over her, but went through all the +exercises with them, learning to ride also, to bend the bow, and dart +the reed or javelin, and oftentimes outdid them in the race and other +contests of agility. + +The intendant of the gardens was so overjoyed to find his adopted +children so well requited the expense he had been at in their +education, that he resolved to be at a still greater; for as he had +till then been content only with his lodge at the entrance to the +garden, and kept no country house, he purchased a country seat at a +short distance from the city, surrounded by a large tract of arable +land, meadows, and woods, and furnished it in the richest manner, and +added gardens, according to a plan drawn by himself, and a large park, +stocked with fallow deer, that the princes and princess might divert +themselves with hunting when they chose. + +When this country seat was finished, the intendant of the gardens went +and cast himself at the emperor's feet, and after representing his +long service and the infirmities of age, which he found growing upon +him, begged permission to resign his charge and retire. The emperor +gave him leave, and asked what he should do to recompense him. "Sire," +replied the intendant of the gardens, "I have received so many +obligations from your majesty and the late emperor your father, of +happy memory, that I desire no more than the honor of being assured of +your continued favor." + +He took his leave of the emperor, and retired with the two princes and +the princess to the country retreat he had built. His wife had been +dead some years, and he himself had not lived in his new abode above +six months when he was surprised by so sudden a death that he had not +time to give them the least account of the manner in which he had +saved them from destruction. + +The Princes Bahman and Perviz, and the Princess Perie-zadeh, who knew +no other father than the intendant of the emperor's gardens, regretted +and bewailed him as such, and paid all the honors in his funeral +obsequies which love and filial gratitude required of them. Satisfied +with the plentiful fortune he had left them, they lived together in +perfect union, free from the ambition of distinguishing themselves at +court, or aspiring to places of honor and dignity, which they might +easily have obtained. + +One day when the two princes were hunting, and the princess had +remained at home, an old woman, a devotee, came to the gate, and +desired leave to go in to say her prayers, it being then the hour. The +servants asked the princess's permission, who ordered them to show her +into the oratory, which the intendant of the emperor's gardens had +taken care to fit up in his house, for want of a mosque in the +neighborhood. After the good woman had finished her prayers, she was +brought before the princess in the great hall, which in beauty and +richness exceeded all the other apartments. + +As soon as the princess saw the devout woman, she asked her many +questions upon the exercise of devotion which she practiced, and how +she lived; all which were answered with great modesty. Talking of +several things, at last she asked the woman what she thought of the +house, and how she liked it. + +"Madam," answered the devout woman, "if you will give me leave to +speak my mind freely, I will take the liberty to tell you that this +house would be incomparable if it had three things which are wanting +to complete it. The first of these three things is the speaking-bird, +so singular a creature that it draws around it all the singing-birds +in the neighborhood, which come to accompany his song. The second is +the singing-tree, the leaves of which are so many mouths, which form +an harmonious concert of different voices, and never cease. The third +is the yellow-water of a gold color, a single drop of which being +poured into a vessel properly prepared, it increases so as to fill it +immediately, and rises up in the middle like a fountain, which +continually plays, and yet the basin never overflows." + +"Ah! my good mother," cried the princess, "how much am I obliged to +you for the knowledge of these curiosities! They are surprising, and I +never before heard there were such wonderful rarities in the world; +but as I am persuaded that you know, I expect that you will do me the +favor to inform me where they are to be found." + +"Madam," replied the good woman, "I am glad to tell you that these +curiosities are all to be met with in the same spot on the confines +of this kingdom, toward India. The road lies before your house, and +whoever you send needs but follow it for twenty days, and on the +twentieth let him only ask the first person he meets where the +speaking-bird, singing-tree, and yellow-water are, and he will be +informed." + +After saying this she rose from her seat, took her leave, and went her +way. + +The Princess Perie-zadeh's thoughts were so absorbed in her desire to +obtain possession of these three wonders, that her brothers, on their +return from hunting, instead of finding her lively and gay, as she +used to be, were amazed to see her pensive and melancholy, and weighed +down by some trouble. + +"Sister," said Prince Bahman, "what has become of all your mirth and +gayety? Are you not well? Or has some misfortune befallen you? Tell us +that we may give you some relief." + +The princess at first returned no answer to these inquiries; but on +being pressed by her brothers, thus replied: "I always believed that +this house which our father built us was so complete that nothing was +wanting. But this day I have learned that it wants three rarities, the +speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and the yellow-water. If it had +these, no country seat in the world could be compared with it." Then +she informed them wherein consisted the excellency of these rarities, +and requested her brothers to send some trustworthy person in search +of these three curiosities. + +"Sister," replied Prince Bahman, "it is enough that you have an +earnest desire for the things you mention to oblige us to try to +obtain them. I will take that charge upon myself; only tell me the +place, and the way to it, and I will set out to-morrow. You, brother, +shall stay at home with our sister, and I commend her to your care." + +Prince Bahman spent the remainder of the day in making preparations +for his journey, and informing himself from the princess of the +directions which the devout woman had left her. The next morning he +mounted his horse, and Perviz and the princess embraced him and wished +him a good journey. But in the midst of their adieus, the princess +recollected what she had not thought of before. + +"Brother," said she, "I had quite forgotten the perils to which you +may be exposed. Who knows whether I shall ever see you again! Alight, +I beseech you, and give up this journey. I would rather be deprived of +the sight and possession of the speaking-bird, singing-tree, and +yellow-water, than run the risk of never seeing you more." + +"Sister," replied Bahman, smiling at the sudden fears of the princess, +"my resolution is fixed, and you must allow me to execute it. However, +as events are uncertain, and I may fail in this undertaking, all I can +do is to leave you this knife. It has a peculiar property. If when you +pull it out of the sheath it is clean as it is now, it will be a sign +that I am alive; but if you find it stained with blood, then you may +believe me to be dead." + +The princess could prevail nothing more with Bahman. He bade adieu to +her and Prince Perviz for the last time, and rode away. When he got +into the road, he never turned to the right hand nor to the left, but +went directly forward toward India. The twentieth day he perceived on +the roadside a very singular old man, who sat under a tree some small +distance from a thatched house, which was his retreat from the +weather. + +His eyebrows were as white as snow, as was also his beard, which was +so long as to cover his mouth, while it reached down to his feet. The +nails of his hands and feet were grown to an immense length; a flat +broad umbrella covered his head. He wore no clothes, but only a mat +thrown round his body. + +This old man was a dervish, for many years retired from the world, and +devoted to contemplation, so that at last he became what we have +described. + +Prince Bahman, who had been all that morning expecting to meet some +one who could give him information of the place he was in search of, +stopped when he came near the dervish, alighted, in conformity to the +directions which the devout woman had given the Princess Perie-zadeh, +and, leading his horse by the bridle, advanced toward him, and +saluting him, said, "God prolong your days, good father, and grant you +the accomplishment of your desires." + +The dervish returned the prince's salutation, but spoke so +unintelligibly that he could not understand one word he said. Prince +Bahman perceiving that this difficulty proceeded from the dervish's +hair hanging over his mouth, and unwilling to go any farther without +the instructions he wanted, pulled out a pair of scissors he had about +him, and having tied his horse to a branch of the tree, said, "Good +dervish, I want to have some talk with you, but your hair prevents my +understanding what you say, and if you will consent, I will cut off +some part of it and of your eyebrows, which disfigure you so much +that you look more like a bear than a man." + +The dervish did not oppose the offer; and when the prince had cut off +as much hair as he thought fit, he perceived that the dervish had a +good complexion, and that he did not seem so very old. + +"Good dervish," said he, "if I had a glass I would show you how young +you look: you are now a man, but before nobody could tell what you +were." + +The kind behavior of Prince Bahman made the dervish smile, and return +his compliment. + +"Sir," said he, "whoever you are, I am obliged by the good office you +have performed, and am ready to show my gratitude by doing anything in +my power for you. Tell me wherein I may serve you." + +"Good dervish," replied Prince Bahman, "I am in search of the +speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and the yellow-water. I know these +three rarities are not far from here, but cannot tell exactly the +place where they are to be found; if you know, I conjure you to show +me the way, that I may not lose my labor after so long a journey." + +The prince, while he spoke, observed that the dervish changed +countenance, held down his eyes, looked very serious, and instead of +making any reply, remained silent: which obliged him to say to him +again, "Good father, tell me whether you know what I ask you, that I +may not lose my time, but inform myself somewhere else." + +At last the dervish broke silence. "Sir," said he to Prince Bahman, "I +know the way you ask of me; but the danger you are going to expose +yourself to is greater than you may suppose. A number of gentlemen of +as much bravery and courage as yourself have passed this way, and +asked me the same question. I can assure you they have all perished, +for I have not seen one come back. Therefore, if you have any regard +for your life, take my advice, go no farther, but return home." + +"Nothing," replied Prince Bahman to the dervish, "shall make me change +my intention. Whoever attacks me, I am brave and well armed." + +"But they who will attack you are not to be seen," said the dervish. +"How will you defend yourself against invisible persons?" + +"It is no matter," answered the prince; "all you can say shall not +persuade me to forego my purpose. Since you know the way, I once more +conjure you to inform me." + +When the dervish found he could not prevail upon Prince Bahman to +relinquish his journey, he put his hand into a bag that lay by him and +pulled out a bowl, which he presented to him. "Since you will not be +led by my advice," said he, "take this bowl: when you have mounted +your horse, throw it before you, and follow it to the foot of a +mountain. There, as soon as the bowl stops, alight, leave your horse +with the bridle over his neck, and he will stand in the same place +till you return. As you ascend you will see on your right and left a +great number of large black stones, and will hear on all sides a +confusion of voices, which will utter a thousand injurious threats to +discourage you, and prevent your reaching the summit of the mountain. +Be not afraid; but above all things, do not turn your head to look +behind you; for in an instant you will be changed into such a black +stone as those you see, which are all youths who have failed in this +enterprise. If you escape the danger, of which I give you but a faint +idea, and get to the top of the mountain, you will see a cage, and in +that cage is the bird you seek; ask him which are the singing-tree and +the yellow-water, and he will tell you. I have nothing more to say, +except to beg you again not to expose your life, for the difficulty is +almost insuperable." + +After these words, the prince mounted his horse, took his leave of the +dervish with a respectful salute, and threw the bowl before him. + +The bowl rolled away unceasingly, with as much swiftness as when +Prince Bahman first hurled it from his hand, which obliged him to put +his horse to the gallop to avoid losing sight of it, and when it had +reached the foot of the mountain it stopped. The prince alighted from +his horse, laid the bridle on his neck, and, having first surveyed the +mountain and seen the black stones, began to ascend. He had not gone +four steps before he heard the voices mentioned by the dervish, though +he could see nobody. Some one said, "Where is he going?" "What would +he have?" "Do not let him pass"; others, "Stop him," "Catch him," +"Kill him"; and others, with a voice like thunder, "Thief!" +"Assassin!" "Murderer!" while some, in a gibing tone, cried, "No, no, +do not hurt him; let the pretty fellow pass. The cage and bird are +kept for him." + +Notwithstanding all these troublesome voices, Prince Bahman ascended +with courage and resolution for some time, but the voices redoubled +with so loud a din near him, both behind, before, and on all sides, +that at last he was seized with dread, his legs trembled under him, he +staggered, and finding that his strength failed him, he forgot the +dervish's advice, turned about to run down the hill, and was that +instant changed into a black stone. His horse likewise, at the same +moment, underwent the same change. + +From the time of Prince Bahman's departure, the Princess Perie-zadeh +always wore the knife and sheath in her girdle, and pulled it out +several times a day, to know whether her brother was yet alive. She +had the consolation to find he was in perfect health, and to talk of +him frequently with Prince Perviz. + +On the fatal day that Prince Bahman was transformed into a stone, as +Prince Perviz and the princess were talking together in the evening, +as usual, the prince desired his sister to pull out the knife to know +how their brother did. The princess readily complied, and seeing the +blood run down the point, was seized with so much horror that she +threw it down. + +"Ah! my dear brother," cried she, "woe's me! I have been the cause of +your death, and shall never see you more! Why did I tell you of the +speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and yellow-water! Why did I allow my +peace to be disturbed by the idle tales of a silly old woman!" + +Prince Perviz was as much afflicted at the death of Prince Bahman as +the princess; but as he knew that she still passionately desired +possession of the speaking-bird, the singing-tree, and the +golden-water, he interrupted her, saying, "Sister, our regret for our +brother is vain and useless; our grief and lamentations cannot restore +him to life. It is the will of God. We must submit to it, and adore +the decrees of the Almighty without searching into them. Why should +you now doubt of the truth of what the holy woman told you? Our +brother's death is probably owing to some error on his part. I am +determined to know the truth, and am resolved myself to undertake this +search. To-morrow I shall set out." + +The princess did all she could to dissuade Prince Perviz, conjuring +him not to expose her to the danger of losing two brothers; but all +the remonstrances she could urge had no effect upon him. Before he +went, that she might know what success he had, he left her a string of +a hundred pearls, telling her, that if they would not run when she +should count them upon the string, but remain fixed, that would be a +certain sign he had undergone the same fate as his brother; but at the +same time told her he hoped it would never happen, but that he should +have the happiness to see her again to their mutual satisfaction. + +Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day after his departure, met the same +dervish in the same place as had his brother Bahman before him, and +asked of him the same question. The dervish urged the same +difficulties and remonstrances as he had done to Prince Bahman, +telling him that a young gentleman, who very much resembled him, was +with him a short time before, and had not yet returned. + +"Good dervish," answered Prince Perviz, "I know whom you speak of; he +was my elder brother, and I am informed of the certainty of his death, +but know not the cause." + +"I can tell you," replied the dervish. "He was changed into a black +stone, as all I speak of have been; and you must expect the same fate +unless you observe more exactly than he has done the advice I gave +him; but I once more entreat you to renounce your resolution." + +"Dervish," said Prince Perviz, "I cannot sufficiently express how much +I am obliged to you for your kind caution; but I cannot now relinquish +this enterprise; therefore I beg of you to do me the same favor you +have done my brother." + +On this the dervish gave the prince a bowl with the same instructions +he had delivered to his brother, and so let him depart. + +Prince Perviz thanked the dervish, and when he had remounted, and +taken leave, threw the bowl before his horse, and spurring him at the +same time, followed it. When the bowl came to the bottom of the hill +it stopped, the prince alighted, and stood some time to recollect the +dervish's directions. He encouraged himself, and then began to walk up +with a determination to reach the summit; but before he had gone above +six steps, he heard a voice, which seemed to be near, as of a man +behind him, say in an insulting tone, "Stay, rash youth, that I may +punish you for your presumption." + +Upon this affront, the prince, forgetting the dervish's advice, +clapped his hand upon his sword, drew it, and turned about to avenge +himself; but had scarcely time to see that nobody followed him before +he and his horse were changed into black stones. + +In the meantime, the Princess Perie-zadeh, several times a day after +her brother's departure, counted her chaplet. She did not omit it at +night, but when she went to bed put it about her neck; and in the +morning when she awoke counted over the pearls again to see if they +would slide. + +The day that Prince Perviz was transformed into a stone she was +counting over the pearls as she used to do, when all at once they +became immovably fixed, a certain token that the prince, her brother, +was dead. As she had determined what to do in case it should so +happen, she lost no time in outward demonstrations of grief, but +proceeded at once to put her plan into execution. She disguised +herself in her brother's robes, and having procured arms and equipment +she mounted her horse the next morning. Telling her servants she +should return in two or three days, she took the same road as her +brothers. + +On the twentieth day she also met the dervish as her brothers had +done, and asked him the same question and received from him the same +answer, with a caution against the folly of sacrificing her life in +such a search. + +When the dervish had done, the princess replied, "By what I comprehend +from your discourse, the difficulties of succeeding in this affair +are, first, the getting up to the cage without being frightened at the +terrible din of voices I shall hear; and, secondly, not to look behind +me. For this last direction, I hope I shall be mistress enough of +myself to observe it. As to the first, I desire to know of you if I +may use a stratagem against those voices which you describe, and which +are so well calculated to excite terror." + +"And what stratagem is it you would employ?" said the dervish. + +"To stop my ears with cotton," answered the princess, "that the +voices, however loud and terrible, may make the less impression upon +my imagination, and my mind remain free from that disturbance which +might cause me to lose the use of my reason." + +"Princess," replied the dervish, "if you persist in your design, you +may make the experiment. You will be fortunate if it succeeds; but I +would advise you not to expose yourself to the danger." + +After the princess had thanked the dervish, and taken her leave of +him, she mounted her horse, threw down the bowl which he had given +her, and followed it till it stopped at the foot of the mountain. + +The princess alighted, stopped her ears with cotton, and after she had +well examined the path leading to the summit, began with a moderate +pace, and walked up with intrepidity. She heard the voices, and +perceived the great service the cotton was to her. The higher she +went, the louder and more numerous the voices seemed; but they were +not capable of making any impression upon her. She heard a great many +affronting speeches and insulting accusations, which she only laughed +at. At last she saw the cage and the bird, while at the same moment +the clamor and thunders of the invisible voices greatly increased. + +The princess, encouraged by the sight of the object of which she was +in search, redoubled her speed, and soon gained the summit of the +mountain, where the ground was level; then running directly to the +cage, and clapping her hand upon it, cried, "Bird, I have you, and you +shall not escape me." + +At the same moment the voices ceased. + +While Perie-zadeh was pulling the cotton out of her ears the bird said +to her, "Heroic princess, since I am destined to be a slave, I would +rather be yours than any other person's, since you have obtained me so +courageously. From this instant I pay an entire submission to all your +commands. I know who you are, for you are not what you seem, and I +will one day tell you more. In the meantime, say what you desire, and +I am ready to obey you." + +"Bird," said Perie-zadeh, "I have been told that there is not far off +a golden-water, the property of which is very wonderful; before all +things, I ask you to tell me where it is." + +The bird showed her the place, which was just by, and she went and +filled a little silver flagon which she had brought with her. She +returned to the bird, and said, "Bird, this is not enough; I want also +the singing-tree. Tell me where it is." + +"Turn about," said the bird, "and you will see behind you a wood, +where you will find this tree. Break off a branch, and carry it to +plant in your garden; it will take root as soon as it is put into the +earth, and in a little time will grow to a fine tree." + +The princess went into the wood, and by the harmonious concert she +heard, soon discovered the singing-tree. + +When the princess had obtained possession of the branch of the +singing-tree, she returned again to the bird, and said, "Bird, what +you have yet done for me is not sufficient. My two brothers, in their +search for thee, have been transformed into black stones on the side +of the mountain. Tell me how I may obtain their dis-enchantment." + +The bird seemed most reluctant to inform the princess on this point; +but on her threatening to take his life, he bade her sprinkle every +stone on her way down the mountain with a little of the water from the +golden fountain. She did so, and every stone she thus touched resumed +the shape of a man or of a horse ready caparisoned. Among these were +her two brothers, Bahman and Perviz, who exchanged with her the most +affectionate embraces. + +Having explained to her brothers and the band of noble youths who had +been enchanted in their search after these three wonders, the means of +their recovery, Perie-zadeh placed herself at their head, and bade +them follow her to the old dervish, to thank him for his reception and +wholesome advice, which they had all found to be sincere. But he was +dead, whether from old age or because he was no longer needed to show +the way to the obtaining the three rarities which the Princess +Perie-zadeh had secured, did not appear. The procession, headed by +Perie-zadeh, pursued its route, but lessened in its numbers every day. +The youths, who had come from different countries, took leave of the +princess and her brothers one after another, as they approached the +various roads by which they had come. + +As soon as the princess reached home, she placed the cage in the +garden; and the bird no sooner began to warble than he was surrounded +by nightingales, chaffinches, larks, linnets, goldfinches, and every +species of birds of the country. And the branch of the singing-tree +was no sooner set in the midst of the parterre, a little distance from +the house, than it took root, and in a short time became a large tree, +the leaves of which gave as harmonious a concert as those of the tree +from which it was gathered. A large basin of beautiful marble was +placed in the garden; and when it was finished the princess poured +into it all the yellow-water from the flagon, which instantly +increased and swelled so much that it soon reached up to the edges of +the basin, and afterward formed in the middle a fountain twenty feet +high which fell again into the basin perpetually without running over. + +The report of these wonders was presently spread abroad, and as the +gates of the house and those of the gardens were shut to nobody, a +great number of people came to admire them. + +Some days after, when the Princes Bahman and Perviz had recovered from +the fatigue of their journey, they resumed their former way of living; +and as their usual diversion was hunting, they mounted their horses +and went for the first time since their return, not to their own +demesne, but two or three leagues from their house. As they pursued +their sport, the Emperor of Persia came in pursuit of game upon the +same ground. When they perceived by the number of horsemen in +different places that he would soon be up, they resolved to +discontinue their chase, and retire to avoid encountering him; but in +the very road they took they chanced to meet him in so narrow a way +that they could not retreat without being seen. In their surprise they +had only time to alight, and prostrate themselves before the emperor. +He stopped and commanded them to rise. The princes rose up, and stood +before him with an easy and graceful air. The emperor, after he had +admired their good air and mien, asked them who they were, and where +they lived. + +"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we are the sons of the late intendant of +your majesty's gardens, and live in a house which he built a little +before he died, till it should please you to give us some employment." + +"By what I perceive," replied the emperor, "you love hunting." + +"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "it is our common exercise, and what +none of your majesty's subjects who intend to bear arms in your armies +ought, according to the ancient custom of the kingdom, to neglect." + +The emperor, charmed with so prudent an answer, said, "It is so, and I +should be glad to see your expertness in the chase; choose your own +game." + +The princes mounted their horses again, and followed the emperor; but +had not gone far before they saw many wild beasts together. Prince +Bahman chose a lion, and Prince Perviz a bear; and pursued them with +so much intrepidity, that the emperor was surprised. They came up with +their game nearly at the same time, and darted their javelins with so +much skill and address, that they pierced, the one the lion and the +other the bear, so effectually that the emperor saw them fall one +after the other. Immediately afterward Prince Bahman pursued another +bear, and Prince Perviz another lion, and killed them in a short time, +and would have beaten out for fresh game, but the emperor would not +let them, and sent to them to come to him. + +When they approached, he said, "If I would have given you leave, you +would soon have destroyed all my game; but it is not that which I +would preserve, but your persons; for I am so well assured your +bravery may one time or other be serviceable to me, that from this +moment your lives will be always dear to me." + +The emperor, in short, conceived so great a fondness for the two +princes that he invited them immediately to make him a visit; to which +Prince Bahman replied, "Your majesty does us an honor we do not +deserve; and we beg you will excuse us." + +The emperor, who could not comprehend what reason the princes could +have to refuse this token of his favor, pressed them to tell him why +they excused themselves. + +"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we have a sister younger than ourselves, +with whom we live in such perfect union that we undertake nothing +before we consult her, nor she anything without asking our advice." + +"I commend your brotherly affection," answered the emperor. "Consult +your sister, then meet me here to-morrow, and give me an answer." + +The princes went home, but neglected to speak of their adventure in +meeting the emperor, and hunting with him, and also of the honor he +had done them by asking them to go home with him; yet did not the next +morning fail to meet him at the place appointed. + +"Well," said the emperor, "have you spoken to your sister? And has she +consented to the pleasure I expect of seeing you?" + +The two princes looked at each other and blushed. + +"Sire," said Prince Bahman, "we beg your majesty to excuse us; for +both my brother and I forgot." + +"Then remember to-day," replied the emperor, "and be sure to bring me +an answer to-morrow." + +The princes were guilty of the same fault a second time, and the +emperor was so good-natured as to forgive their negligence; but to +prevent their forgetfulness the third time, he pulled three little +golden balls out of a purse, and put them into Prince Bahman's bosom. + +"These balls," said he, smiling, "will prevent you forgetting a third +time what I wish you to do, since the noise they will make by falling +on the floor, when you undress, will remind you, if you do not +recollect it before." + +The event happened just as the emperor foresaw; and without these +balls the princes had not thought of speaking to their sister of this +affair. For as Prince Bahman unloosened his girdle to go to bed the +balls dropped on the floor, upon which he ran into Prince Perviz's +chamber, when both went into the Princess Perie-zadeh's apartment, and +after they had asked her pardon for coming at so unseasonable a time, +they told her all the circumstances of their meeting the emperor. + +The princess was somewhat surprised at this intelligence. "It was on +my account, I know," she said, "you refused the emperor, and I am +infinitely obliged to you for doing so. For, my dear brothers, I know +by this your affection for me is equal to my own. But you know +monarchs will be obeyed in their desires, and it may be dangerous to +oppose them; therefore, if to follow my inclination I should dissuade +you from showing the complaisance the emperor expects from you, it may +expose you to his resentment, and may render myself and you miserable. +These are my sentiments; but before we conclude upon anything let us +consult the speaking-bird, and hear what he says; he is wise, and has +promised his assistance in all difficulties." + +The princess sent for the cage, and after she had related the +circumstances to the bird in the presence of her brothers, asked him +what they should do in this perplexity. + +The bird answered,[40] "The princes, your brothers, must conform to +the emperor's pleasure, and in their turn invite him to come and see +your house." + +[Footnote 40: To understand the language of birds was peculiarly one +of the boasted sciences of the Arabians, who pretend that many of +their countrymen have been skilled in the knowledge of the language of +birds ever since the time of King Solomon. Their writers relate that +Balkis, the Queen of Sheba, had a bird called Hudhud, that is, +lapwing, which was her trusty messenger to King Solomon. D'Herbelot +tells this story of Athejaj, a famous Arabian commander: While he and +a camel driver were talking together, a bird flew over their heads, +making, at the same time, an unusual sort of noise, which the camel +driver hearing, looked steadfastly on Athejaj, and demanded who he +was. Athejaj, not choosing to answer, desired to know the reason of +that question. "Because," replied the camel driver, "this bird assured +me that a company of people is coming this way, and that you are the +chief of them." While he was speaking, Athejaj's attendants +arrived.--_Warton's History of Poetry_, Vol. II, p. 182. Ed. 1840.] + +Next morning the princes met the emperor again, who called and asked +them, while they were yet afar off, if they had remembered to speak to +their sister. Prince Bahman approached, and answered, "Sire, your +majesty may dispose of us as you please. We are ready to obey you; for +we have not only obtained our sister's consent with great ease, but +she took it amiss that we should pay her that deference in a matter +wherein our duty to your majesty was concerned. But if we have +offended, we hope you will pardon us." + +"Do not be uneasy on that account," replied the emperor. "So far from +taking amiss what you have done, I highly approve of your conduct, and +hope you will have the same deference and attachment to my person, if +I have ever so little share in your friendship." + +The princes, confounded at the emperor's goodness, returned no other +answer but a low obeisance, to show the great respect with which they +received it. + +The emperor gave orders to return at once to his palace. He made the +princes ride one on each side of him, an honor which grieved the grand +vizier, who was much mortified to see them preferred before him. + +When the emperor entered his capital, the eyes of the people, who +stood in crowds in the streets, were fixed upon the two Princes Bahman +and Perviz; and they were earnest to know who they might be, +whether foreigners or natives, and many wished that the emperor had +been blessed with two such handsome princes. + +[Illustration: _He presently discovered a gold box, about a foot +square, which he gave into the princess's hands Page 147_] + +The first thing that the emperor did when he arrived at his palace was +to conduct the princes into the principal apartments. With due +discrimination, like persons conversant in such matters, they praised +the beauty and symmetry of the rooms, and the richness of the +furniture and ornaments. Afterward, a magnificent repast was served +up, and the emperor made them sit with him, and was so much pleased +with the wit, judgment, and discernment shown by the two princes that +he said, "Were these my own children, and I had improved their talents +by suitable education, they could not have been more accomplished or +better informed." + +When night approached, the two princes prostrated themselves at the +emperor's feet; and having thanked him for the favors he had heaped +upon them, asked his permission to retire, which was granted by the +emperor. + +Before they went out of the emperor's presence, Prince Bahman said, +"Sire, may we presume to request that you will do us and our sister +the honor to visit us the first time you take the diversion of hunting +in that neighborhood? Our house is not worthy your presence; but +monarchs sometimes have vouchsafed to take shelter in a cottage." + +"My children," replied the emperor, "your house cannot be otherwise +than beautiful, and worthy of its owners. I will call and see it with +pleasure, which will be the greater for having for my hosts you and +your sister, who is already dear to me from the accounts you give me +of the rare qualities with which she is endowed; and this +satisfaction I will defer no longer than to-morrow. Early in the +morning I will be at the place where I shall never forget that I first +saw you. Meet me, and you shall be my guides." + +When the Princes Bahman and Perviz had returned home they gave the +princess an account of the distinguished reception the emperor had +accorded them, and told her that he would call at their house the next +day. + +"If it be so," replied the princess, "we must think of preparing a +repast fit for his majesty; and for that purpose I think it would be +proper we should consult the speaking-bird; he will tell us perhaps +what meats the emperor likes best." + +The princes approved of her plan, and after they had retired, she +consulted the bird alone. + +"Bird," said she, "the emperor will to-morrow come to see our house, +and we are to entertain him. Tell us what we shall do to acquit +ourselves to his satisfaction." + +"Good mistress," replied the bird, "you have excellent cooks; let them +do the best they can. But above all things, let them prepare a dish of +cucumbers stuffed full of pearls, which must be set before the emperor +in the first course, before all the other dishes." + +"Cucumbers stuffed full of pearls!" cried Princess Perie-zadeh, with +amazement. "Surely, bird, you do not know what you say. It is an +unheard-of dish! Besides, all the pearls I possess are not enough for +such a dish." + +"Mistress," said the bird, "do what I say, and as for the pearls, go +early to-morrow morning to the foot of the first tree on your right +hand in the park, dig under it, and you will find more than you want." + +The princess immediately ordered a gardener to be ready to attend her +in the morning, and led him at daybreak to the tree which the bird had +told her of, and bade him dig at its foot. When the gardener came to a +certain depth, he found some resistance to the spade, and presently +discovered a gold box, about a foot square, which he gave into the +princess's hands. As it was fastened only with neat little hasps, she +soon opened it, and found it full of pearls. Very well satisfied with +having found this treasure, after she had shut the box again she put +it under her arm, and went back to the house; while the gardener threw +the earth into the hole at the foot of the tree as it had been before. + +The princess, as she returned to the house, met her two brothers and +gave them an account of her having consulted the bird, and the answer +he had given her to prepare a dish of cucumbers stuffed full of +pearls, and how he had told her where to find this box. The princes +and princess, though they could not by any means guess at the reason +of the bird ordering them to prepare such a dish, yet agreed to follow +his advice exactly. + +As soon as the princess entered the house she called for the head +cook; and after she had given him directions about the entertainment +for the emperor, said to him, "Besides all this, you must dress an +extraordinary dish to set before the emperor himself. This dish must +be of cucumbers stuffed with these pearls." And at the same time she +opened the box and showed him the pearls. + +The chief cook, who had never heard of such a dish, started back, and +could make no reply, but took the box and retired. Afterward the +princess gave directions to all the domestics to have everything in +order, both in house and gardens, to receive the emperor. + +Next day the two princes went to the place appointed; and as soon as +the Emperor of Persia arrived the chase began, which lasted till the +heat of the sun obliged him to leave off. While Prince Bahman stayed +to conduct the emperor to their house, Prince Perviz rode before to +show the way, and when he came in sight of the house, spurred his +horse, to inform the Princess Perie-zadeh that the emperor was +approaching; but she had been told by some attendants whom she had +placed to give notice, and the prince found her waiting ready to +receive him. + +When the emperor had entered the courtyard, and alighted at the +portico, the princess came and threw herself at his feet. + +The emperor stooped to raise her, and after he had gazed some time on +her beauty, said, "The brothers are worthy of the sister, and she is +worthy of them. I am not amazed that the brothers would do nothing +without their sister's consent; but," added he, "I hope to be better +acquainted with you, my daughter, after I have seen the house." + +The princess led the emperor through all the rooms except the hall; +and after he had considered them very attentively and admired their +variety, "My daughter," said he to the princess, "do you call this a +country house? The finest and largest cities would soon be deserted if +all country houses were like yours. I am no longer surprised that you +take so much delight in it, and despise the town. Now let me see the +garden, which I doubt not is answerable to the house." + +The princess opened a door which led into the garden; and conducted +him to the spot where the harmonious tree was planted, and there the +emperor heard a concert, different from all he had ever heard before. +Stopping to see where the musicians were, he could discern nobody far +or near, but still distinctly heard the music, which ravished his +senses. "My daughter," said he to the princess, "where are the +musicians whom I hear? Are they underground, or invisible in the air? +Such excellent performers will lose nothing by being seen; on the +contrary, they would please the more." + +"Sire," answered the princess, smiling, "they are not musicians, but +the leaves of the tree your majesty sees before you, which form this +concert; and if you will give yourself the trouble to go a little +nearer, you will be convinced, for the voices will be the more +distinct." + +The emperor went nearer, and was so charmed with the sweet harmony +that he could never have been tired with hearing it. + +"Daughter," said he, "tell me, I pray you, whether this wonderful tree +was found in your garden by chance, or was a present made to you, or +have you procured it from some foreign country? It must certainly have +come from a great distance, otherwise, curious as I am after natural +rarities, I should have heard of it. What name do you call it by?" + +"Sire," replied the princess, "this tree has no other name than that +of the singing-tree, and is not a native of this country. Its history +is connected with the yellow-water and the speaking-bird, which came +to me at the same time, and which your majesty may see after you have +rested yourself. And if it please you, I will relate to you the +history of these rarities." + +"My daughter," replied the emperor, "my fatigue is so well recompensed +by the wonderful things you have shown me, that I do not feel it the +least. I am impatient to see the yellow-water and to admire the +speaking-bird." + +When the emperor came to the yellow-water his eyes were fixed so +steadfastly upon the fountain that he could not take them off. At +last, addressing himself to the princess, he said, "Whence is this +wonderful water? Where its source? By what art is it made to play so +high that nothing in the world can be compared to it? I conclude that +it is foreign, as well as the singing-tree." + +"Sire," replied the princess, "it is as your majesty conjectures; and +to let you know that this water has no communication with any spring, +I must inform you that the basin is one entire stone, so that the +water cannot come in at the sides or underneath. But what your majesty +will think most wonderful is, that all this water proceeded but from +one small flagon, emptied into this basin, which increased to the +quantity you see, by a property peculiar to itself, and formed this +fountain." + +"Well," said the emperor, going from the fountain, "this is enough for +one time. I promise myself the pleasure to come and visit it often. +Now let us go and see the speaking-bird." + +As he went toward the hall, the emperor perceived a prodigious number +of singing-birds in the trees around, filling the air with their songs +and warblings, and asked why there were so many there, and none on the +other trees in the garden. + +"The reason, sire," answered the princess, "is, because they come from +all parts to accompany the song of the speaking-bird, which your +majesty may see in a cage in one of the windows of the hall we are +approaching; and if you attend, you will perceive that his notes are +sweeter than those of any of the other birds, even the nightingale's." + +The emperor went into the hall; and as the bird continued singing, the +princess raised her voice, and said, "My slave, here is the emperor. +Pay your compliments to him." + +The bird left off singing that instant, all the other birds ceasing +also, and it said, "God save the emperor. May he long live!" + +As the entertainment was served at the sofa near the window where the +bird was placed, the sultan replied, as he was taking his seat, "Bird, +I thank you, and am overjoyed to find in you the sultan and king of +birds." + +As soon as the emperor saw the dish of cucumbers set before him, +thinking it was stuffed in the best manner, he reached out his hand +and took one; but when he cut it, was in extreme surprise to find it +stuffed with pearls. + +"What novelty is this?" said he. "And with what design were these +cucumbers stuffed thus with pearls, since pearls are not to be eaten!" + +He looked at the two princes and the princess to ask them the meaning; +when the bird, interrupting him, said, "Can your majesty be in such +great astonishment at cucumbers stuffed with pearls, which you see +with your own eyes, and yet so easily believe that the queen your wife +was the mother of a dog, a cat, and of a piece of wood?" + +"I believed those things," replied the emperor, "because the nurses +assured me of the facts." + +"Those nurses, sire," replied the bird, "were the queen's two sisters, +who, envious of her happiness in being preferred by your majesty +before them, to satisfy their envy and revenge have abused your +majesty's credulity. If you interrogate them, they will confess their +crime. The two brothers and the sister whom you see before you are +your own children, whom they exposed, and who were saved by the +intendant of your gardens, who adopted and brought them up as his own +children." + +"Bird," cried the emperor, "I believe the truth which you discover to +me. The inclination which drew me to them told me plainly they must be +my own kin. Come then, my sons, come, my daughter, let me embrace you, +and give you the first marks of a father's love and tenderness." + +The emperor then rose, and after having embraced the two princes and +the princess, and mingled his tears with theirs, said, "It is not +enough, my children. You must embrace each other, not as the children +of the intendant of my gardens, to whom I have been so much obliged +for preserving your lives, but as my own children, of the royal blood +of the monarchs of Persia, whose glory, I am persuaded, you will +maintain." + +After the two princes and the princess had embraced mutually with new +satisfaction, the emperor sat down again with them, and finished his +meal in haste; and when he had done, said, "My children, you see in me +your father; to-morrow I will bring the queen your mother. Therefore +prepare to receive her." + +The emperor afterward mounted his horse, and returned with expedition +to his capital. The first thing he did, as soon as he had alighted and +entered his palace, was to command the grand vizier to seize the +queen's two sisters. They were taken from their houses separately, +convicted and condemned, and the fatal sentence was put in execution +within an hour. + +In the meantime the Emperor Khoonoo-shah, followed by all the lords of +his court who were then present, went on foot to the door of the great +mosque; and after he had taken the queen out of the strict confinement +she had languished under for so many years, embracing her in the +miserable condition to which she was then reduced, he said to her, +with tears in his eyes: + +"I come to entreat your pardon for the injustice I have done you, and +to make you the reparation I ought. I have punished your cruel sisters +who put the abominable cheat upon me; and I hope soon to present to +you two accomplished princes and a lovely princess, our children. Come +and resume your former rank, with all the honors which are your due." + +All this was done and said before great crowds of people, who flocked +from all parts at the first news of what was passing, and immediately +spread the joyful intelligence through the city. + +Next morning early the emperor and queen, whose mournful humiliating +dress was changed for magnificent robes, went with all their court to +the house built by the intendant of the gardens, where the emperor +presented the Princes Bahman and Perviz and the Princess Perie-zadeh +to their enraptured mother. + +"These, much injured wife," said he, "are the two princes your sons, +and this the princess your daughter; embrace them with the same +tenderness I have done, since they are worthy both of me and you." + +The tears flowed plentifully down the cheeks of all, but especially of +the queen, from her exceeding joy at having two such princes for her +sons, and such a princess for her daughter, on whose account she had +so long endured the severest afflictions. + +The two princes and the princess had prepared a magnificent repast for +the emperor and queen and their court. As soon as that was over, the +emperor led the queen into the garden, and showed her the +harmonious-tree and the beautiful yellow-fountain. She had already +seen and heard the speaking-bird in his cage, and the emperor had +spared no panegyric in his praise during the repast. + +When there was nothing to detain the emperor any longer, he took +horse, and with the Princes Bahman and Perviz on his right hand, and +the queen and the princess at his left, preceded and followed by all +the officers of his court according to their rank, returned to his +capital. Crowds of people came out to meet them, and with acclamations +of joy ushered them into the city, where all eyes were fixed not only +upon the queen, the two princes, and the princess, but also upon the +bird which the princess carried before her in his cage, admiring his +sweet notes which had drawn all the other birds about him, which +followed him, flying from tree to tree in the country, and from one +housetop to another in the city. + +The Princes Bahman and Perviz and the Princess Perie-zadeh were at +length brought to the palace with this pomp, and nothing was to be +seen or heard all that night but illuminations and rejoicings both in +the palace and in the utmost parts of the city, which lasted for many +days, and extended throughout the empire of Persia. + + + + +THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP + + +In one of the large and rich cities of China there once lived a tailor +named Mustapha. He was very poor. He could hardly, by his daily labor, +maintain himself and his family, which consisted only of his wife and +a son. + +His son, who was called Aladdin,[41] was a very careless and idle +fellow. He was disobedient to his father and mother, and would go out +early in the morning and stay out all day, playing in the streets and +public places with idle children of his own age. + +[Footnote 41: Aladdin signifies "The Nobility of the Religion."--Lane, +Vol. II, p. 285.] + +When he was old enough to learn a trade his father took him into his +own shop, and taught him how to use his needle; but all his father's +endeavors to keep him to his work were vain, for no sooner was his +back turned than the boy was gone for that day. Mustapha chastised +him, but Aladdin was incorrigible, and his father, to his great grief, +was forced to abandon him to his idleness. He was so much troubled +about him, that he fell sick and died in a few months. + +Aladdin, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, +gave himself over entirely to his idle habits, and was never out of +the streets from his companions. This course he followed till he was +fifteen years old, without giving his mind to any useful pursuit, or +the least reflection on what would become of him. As he was one day +playing in the street with his evil associates, according to custom, +a stranger passing by stood to observe him. + +This stranger was a sorcerer, known as the African magician, as he had +been but two days arrived from Africa, his native country. + +The African magician, observing in Aladdin's countenance something +which assured him that he was a fit boy for his purpose, inquired his +name and history of his companions. When he had learned all he desired +to know, he went up to him, and taking him aside from his comrades, +said, "Child, was not your father called Mustapha the tailor?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the boy, "but he has been dead a long time." + +At these words the African magician threw his arms about Aladdin's +neck, and kissed him several times, with tears in his eyes, saying, "I +am your uncle. Your worthy father was my own brother. I knew you at +first sight, you are so like him." + +Then he gave Aladdin a handful of small money, saying, "Go, my son, to +your mother. Give my love to her, and tell her that I will visit her +to-morrow, that I may see where my good brother lived so long, and +ended his days." + +Aladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had given +him. + +"Mother," said he, "have I an uncle?" + +"No, child," replied his mother, "you have no uncle by your father's +side or mine." + +"I am just now come," said Aladdin, "from a man who says he is my +uncle, and my father's brother. He cried, and kissed me, when I told +him my father was dead, and gave me money, sending his love to you, +and promising to come and pay you a visit, that he may see the house +my father lived and died in." + +"Indeed, child," replied the mother, "your father had no brother, nor +have you an uncle." + +The next day the magician found Aladdin playing in another part of the +town, and embracing him as before, put two pieces of gold into his +hand, and said to him, "Carry this, child, to your mother. Tell her +that I will come and see her to-night, and bid her get us something +for supper. But first show me the house where you live." + +Aladdin showed the African magician the house, and carried the two +pieces of gold to his mother, who went out and bought provisions; and +considering she wanted various utensils, borrowed them of her +neighbors. She spent the whole day in preparing the supper; and at +night, when it was ready, said to her son, "Perhaps the stranger knows +not how to find our house; go and bring him, if you meet with him." + +Aladdin was just ready to go, when the magician knocked at the door, +and came in loaded with wine and all sorts of fruits, which he brought +for a dessert. After he had given what he brought into Aladdin's +hands, he saluted his mother, and desired her to show him the place +where his brother Mustapha used to sit on the sofa; and when she had +so done, he fell down, and kissed it several times, crying out, with +tears in his eyes, "My poor brother! how unhappy am I, not to have +come soon enough to give you one last embrace!" + +Aladdin's mother desired him to sit down in the same place, but he +declined. + +"No," said he, "I shall not do that; but give me leave to sit opposite +to it, that although I see not the master of a family so dear to me, I +may at least behold the place where he used to sit." + +When the magician had made choice of a place, and sat down, he began +to enter into discourse with Aladdin's mother. + +"My good sister," said he, "do not be surprised at your never having +seen me all the time you have been married to my brother Mustapha of +happy memory. I have been forty years absent from this country, which +is my native place as well as my late brother's. During that time I +have traveled into the Indies, Persia, Arabia, and Syria, and +afterward crossed over into Africa, where I took up my abode in Egypt. +At last, as it is natural for a man, I was desirous to see my native +country again, and to embrace my dear brother; and finding I had +strength enough to undertake so long a journey, I made the necessary +preparations, and set out. Nothing ever afflicted me so much as +hearing of my brother's death. But God be praised for all things! It +is a comfort for me to find, as it were, my brother in a son, who has +his most remarkable features." + +The African magician, perceiving that the widow wept at the +remembrance of her husband, changed the conversation, and turning +toward her son, asked him, "What business do you follow? Are you of +any trade?" + +At this question the youth hung down his head, and was not a little +abashed when his mother answered, "Aladdin is an idle fellow. His +father, when alive, strove all he could to teach him his trade, but +could not succeed; and since his death, notwithstanding all I can say +to him, he does nothing but idle away his time in the streets, as you +saw him, without considering he is no longer a child; and if you do +not make him ashamed of it, I despair of his ever coming to any good. +For my part, I am resolved, one of these days, to turn him out of +doors, and let him provide for himself." + +After these words, Aladdin's mother burst into tears; and the magician +said, "This is not well, nephew; you must think of helping yourself, +and getting your livelihood. There are many sorts of trades; perhaps +you do not like your father's, and would prefer another; I will +endeavor to help you. If you have no mind to learn any handicraft, I +will take a shop for you, furnish it with all sorts of fine stuffs and +linens; and then with the money you make of them you can lay in fresh +goods, and live in an honorable way. Tell me freely what you think of +my proposal; you shall always find me ready to keep my word." + +This plan just suited Aladdin, who hated work. He told the magician he +had a greater inclination to that business than to any other, and that +he should be much obliged to him for his kindness. "Well, then," said +the African magician, "I will carry you with me to-morrow, clothe you +as handsomely as the best merchants in the city, and afterward we will +open a shop as I mentioned." + +The widow, after his promise of kindness to her son, no longer doubted +that the magician was her husband's brother. She thanked him for his +good intentions; and after having exhorted Aladdin to render himself +worthy of his uncle's favor, she served up supper, at which they +talked of several indifferent matters; and then the magician took his +leave and retired. + +He came again the next day, as he had promised, and took Aladdin with +him to a merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes for different ages +and ranks, ready made, and a variety of fine stuffs, and bade Aladdin +choose those he preferred, which he paid for. + +When Aladdin found himself so handsomely equipped, he returned his +uncle thanks, who thus addressed him: "As you are soon to be a +merchant, it is proper you should frequent these shops, and become +acquainted with them." + +He then showed him the largest and finest mosques, carried him to the +khans or inns where the merchants and travelers lodged, and afterward +to the sultan's palace, where he had free access; and at last brought +him to his own khan, where, meeting with some merchants he had become +acquainted with since his arrival, he gave them a treat, to bring them +and his pretended nephew acquainted. + +This entertainment lasted till night, when Aladdin would have taken +leave of his uncle to go home. The magician would not let him go by +himself, but conducted him to his mother, who, as soon as she saw him +so well dressed, was transported with joy, and bestowed a thousand +blessings upon the magician. + +Early the next morning the magician called again for Aladdin, and said +he would take him to spend that day in the country, and on the next he +would purchase the shop. He then led him out at one of the gates of +the city, to some magnificent palaces, to each of which belonged +beautiful gardens, into which anybody might enter. At every building +he came to he asked Aladdin if he did not think it fine; and the youth +was ready to answer, when any one presented itself, crying out, "Here +is a finer house, uncle, than any we have yet seen." + +By this artifice the cunning magician led Aladdin some way into the +country; and as he meant to carry him farther, to execute his design, +pretending to be tired, he took an opportunity to sit down in one of +the gardens, on the brink of a fountain of clear water which +discharged itself by a lion's mouth of bronze into a basin. + +"Come, nephew," said he, "you must be weary as well as I. Let us rest +ourselves, and we shall be better able to pursue our walk." + +The magician next pulled from his girdle a handkerchief with cakes and +fruit, and during this short repast he exhorted his nephew to leave +off bad company, and to seek that of wise and prudent men, to improve +by their conversation. "For," said he, "you will soon be at man's +estate, and you cannot too early begin to imitate their example." + +When they had eaten as much as they liked, they got up, and pursued +their walk through gardens separated from one another only by small +ditches, which marked out the limits without interrupting the +communication; so great was the confidence the inhabitants reposed in +each other. + +By this means the African magician drew Aladdin insensibly beyond the +gardens, and crossed the country, till they nearly reached the +mountains. + +At last they arrived between two mountains of moderate height and +equal size, divided by a narrow valley, where the magician intended to +execute the design that had brought him from Africa to China. + +"We will go no farther now," said he to Aladdin. "I will show you +here some extraordinary things, which, when you have seen, you will +thank me for; but while I strike a light, gather up all the loose dry +sticks you can see, to kindle a fire with." + +Aladdin found so many dried sticks that he soon collected a great +heap. The magician presently set them on fire; and when they were in a +blaze he threw in some incense, pronouncing several magical words, +which Aladdin did not understand. + +He had scarcely done so when the earth opened just before the +magician, and disclosed a stone with a brass ring fixed in it. Aladdin +was so frightened that he would have run away, but the magician caught +hold of him, and gave him such a box on the ear that he knocked him +down. Aladdin got up trembling, and, with tears in his eyes, said to +the magician, "What have I done, uncle, to be treated in this severe +manner?" + +"I am your uncle," answered the magician; "I supply the place of your +father, and you ought to make no reply. But, child," added he, +softening, "do not be afraid; for I shall not ask anything of you, but +that, if you obey me punctually, you will reap the advantages which I +intend you. Know, then, that under this stone there is hidden a +treasure, destined to be yours, and which will make you richer than +the greatest monarch in the world. No person but yourself is permitted +to lift this stone, or enter the cave; so you must punctually execute +what I may command, for it is a matter of great consequence both to +you and to me." + +Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard, forgot what was past, and +rising said, "Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me. I am ready +to obey." + +"I am overjoyed, child," said the African magician, embracing him. +"Take hold of the ring, and lift up that stone." + +"Indeed, uncle," replied Aladdin, "I am not strong enough; you must +help me." + +"You have no occasion for my assistance," answered the magician; "if I +help you, we shall be able to do nothing. Take hold of the ring, and +lift it up; you will find it will come easily." Aladdin did as the +magician bade him, raised the stone with ease, and laid it on one +side. + +When the stone was pulled up there appeared a staircase about three or +four feet deep, leading to a door. + +"Descend those steps, my son," said the African magician, "and open +that door. It will lead you into a palace, divided into three great +halls. In each of these you will see four large brass cisterns placed +on each side, full of gold and silver; but take care you do not meddle +with them. Before you enter the first hall, be sure to tuck up your +robe, wrap it about you, and then pass through the second into the +third without stopping. Above all things, have a care that you do not +touch the walls so much as with your clothes; for if you do, you will +die instantly. At the end of the third hall you will find a door which +opens into a garden planted with fine trees loaded with fruit. Walk +directly across the garden to a terrace, where you will see a niche +before you, and in that niche a lighted lamp. Take the lamp down and +put it out. When you have thrown away the wick and poured out the +liquor, put it in your waistband and bring it to me. Do not be afraid +that the liquor will spoil your clothes, for it is not oil, and the +lamp will be dry as soon as it is thrown out." + +After these words the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put it +on one of Aladdin's, saying, "It is a talisman against all evil, so +long as you obey me. Go, therefore, boldly, and we shall both be rich +all our lives." + +Aladdin descended the steps, and, opening the door, found the three +halls just as the African magician had described. He went through them +with all the precaution the fear of death could inspire, crossed the +garden without stopping, took down the lamp from the niche, threw out +the wick and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired, put it in +his waistband. But as he came down from the terrace, seeing it was +perfectly dry, he stopped in the garden to observe the trees, which +were loaded with extraordinary fruit of different colors on each tree. +Some bore fruit entirely white, and some clear and transparent as +crystal; some pale red, and others deeper; some green, blue, and +purple, and others yellow; in short, there was fruit of all colors. +The white were pearls; the clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep +red, rubies; the paler, ballas rubies[42]; the green, emeralds; the +blue, turquoises; the purple, amethysts; and the yellow, sapphires. +Aladdin, ignorant of their value, would have preferred figs, or +grapes, or pomegranates; but as he had his uncle's permission, he +resolved to gather some of every sort. Having filled the two new +purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes, he wrapped some +up in the skirts of his vest, and crammed his bosom as full as it +could hold. + +[Footnote 42: Ballas rubies are rubies of the brightest color.] + +Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches of which he knew not +the value, returned through the three halls with the utmost +precaution, and soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where the +African magician awaited him with the utmost impatience. + +As soon as Aladdin saw him, he cried out, "Pray, uncle, lend me your +hand, to help me out." + +"Give me the lamp first," replied the magician; "it will be +troublesome to you." + +"Indeed, uncle," answered Aladdin, "I cannot now; but I will as soon +as I am up." + +The African magician was determined that he would have the lamp before +he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumbered himself so much +with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refused to give it to +him till he was out of the cave. The African magician, provoked at +this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a little of his +incense into the fire, and pronounced two magical words, when the +stone which had closed the mouth of the staircase moved into its +place, with the earth over it in the same manner as it lay at the +arrival of the magician and Aladdin. + +This action of the magician plainly revealed to Aladdin that he was no +uncle of his, but one who designed him evil. The truth was that he had +learned from his magic books the secret and the value of this +wonderful lamp, the owner of which would be made richer than any +earthly ruler, and hence his journey to China. His art had also told +him that he was not permitted to take it himself, but must receive it +as a voluntary gift from the hands of another person. Hence he +employed young Aladdin, and hoped by a mixture of kindness and +authority to make him obedient to his word and will. When he found +that his attempt had failed, he set out to return to Africa, but +avoided the town, lest any person who had seen him leave in company +with Aladdin should make inquiries after the youth. + +Aladdin, being suddenly enveloped in darkness, cried, and called out +to his uncle to tell him he was ready to give him the lamp. But in +vain, since his cries could not be heard. + +He descended to the bottom of the steps, with a design to get into the +palace, but the door, which was opened before by enchantment, was now +shut by the same means. He then redoubled his cries and tears, sat +down on the steps without any hopes of ever seeing light again, and in +an expectation of passing from the present darkness to a speedy death. + +In this great emergency he said, "There is no strength or power but in +the great and high God"; and in joining his hands to pray he rubbed +the ring which the magician had put on his finger. Immediately a genie +of frightful aspect appeared, and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am +ready to obey thee. I serve him who possesses the ring on thy finger; +I, and the other slaves of that ring." + +At another time Aladdin would have been frightened at the sight of so +extraordinary a figure, but the danger he was in made him answer +without hesitation, "Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place." He +had no sooner spoken these words than he found himself on the very +spot where the magician had last left him, and no sign of cave or +opening, nor disturbance of the earth. Returning thanks to God for +being once more in the world, he made the best of his way home. When +he got within his mother's door, joy at seeing her and weakness for +want of sustenance made him so faint that he remained for a long time +as dead. As soon as he recovered, he related to his mother all that +had happened to him, and they were both very vehement in their +complaints of the cruel magician. + +Aladdin slept very soundly till late the next morning, when the first +thing he said to his mother was, that he wanted something to eat, and +wished she would give him his breakfast. + +"Alas! child," said she, "I have not a bit of bread to give you; you +ate up all the provisions I had in the house yesterday; but I have a +little cotton which I have spun; I will go and sell it, and buy bread +and something for our dinner." + +"Mother," replied Aladdin, "keep your cotton for another time, and +give me the lamp I brought home with me yesterday. I will go and sell +it, and the money I shall get for it will serve both for breakfast and +dinner, and perhaps supper too." + +Aladdin's mother took the lamp and said to her son, "Here it is, but +it is very dirty. If it were a little cleaner I believe it would bring +something more." + +She took some fine sand and water to clean it. But she had no sooner +begun to rub it, than in an instant a hideous genie of gigantic size +appeared before her, and said to her in a voice of thunder, "What +wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave +of all those who have that lamp in their hands; I, and the other +slaves of the lamp." + +Aladdin's mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted; when +Aladdin, who had seen such a phantom in the cavern, snatched the lamp +out of his mother's hand, and said to the genie boldly, "I am hungry. +Bring me something to eat." + +The genie disappeared immediately, and in an instant returned with a +large silver tray, holding twelve covered dishes of the same metal, +which contained the most delicious viands; six large white bread cakes +on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two silver cups. All these he +placed upon a carpet and disappeared; this was done before Aladdin's +mother recovered from her swoon. + +Aladdin had fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face to +recover her. Whether that or the smell of the meat effected her cure, +it was not long before she came to herself. + +"Mother," said Aladdin, "be not afraid. Get up and eat. Here is what +will put you in heart, and at the same time satisfy my extreme +hunger." + +His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve dishes, +six loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the savory odor +which exhaled from the dishes. + +"Child," said she, "to whom are we obliged for this great plenty and +liberality? Has the sultan been made acquainted with our poverty, and +had compassion on us?" + +"It is no matter, mother," said Aladdin. "Let us sit down and eat; for +you have almost as much need of a good breakfast as I myself. When we +have done, I will tell you." + +Accordingly, both mother and son sat down and ate with the better +relish as the table was so well furnished. But all the time Aladdin's +mother could not forbear looking at and admiring the tray and dishes, +though she could not judge whether they were silver or any other +metal, and the novelty more than the value attracted her attention. + +The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner time, and then +they thought it would be best to put the two meals together. Yet, +after this they found they should have enough left for supper, and two +meals for the next day. + +When Aladdin's mother had taken away and set by what was left, she +went and sat down by her son on the sofa, saying, "I expect now that +you will satisfy my impatience, and tell me exactly what passed +between the genie and you while I was in a swoon." + +He readily complied with her request. + +She was in as great amazement at what her son told her as at the +appearance of the genie, and said to him, "But, son, what have we to +do with genies? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had ever +seen one. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, and not +to you, to whom he had appeared before in the cave?" + +"Mother," answered Aladdin, "the genie you saw is not the one who +appeared to me. If you remember, he that I first saw called himself +the slave of the ring on my finger; and this you saw, called himself +the slave of the lamp you had in your hand; but I believe you did not +hear him, for I think you fainted as soon as he began to speak." + +"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp then the occasion of that +cursed genie's addressing himself to me rather than to you? Ah! my +son, take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. I had +rather you would sell it than run the hazard of being frightened to +death again by touching it; and if you would take my advice, you would +part also with the ring, and not have anything to do with genies, who, +as our prophet has told us, are only devils." + +"With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin, "I shall now take care how +I sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me. That +false and wicked magician would not have undertaken so long a journey +to secure this wonderful lamp if he had not known its value to exceed +that of gold and silver. And since we have honestly come by it, let us +make a profitable use of it, without making any great show and +exciting the envy and jealousy of our neighbors. However, since the +genies frighten you so much, I will take it out of your sight, and put +it where I may find it when I want it. The ring I cannot resolve to +part with; for without that you had never seen me again; and though I +am alive now, perhaps, if it were gone, I might not be so some moments +hence. Therefore I hope you will give me leave to keep it, and to wear +it always on my finger." + +Aladdin's mother replied that he might do what he pleased; for her +part, she would have nothing to do with genies, and never say anything +more about them. + +By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie had +brought; and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the thought of +hunger, putting one of the silver dishes under his vest, went out +early to sell it. Addressing himself to a Jew whom he met in the +streets, he took him aside, and pulling out the plate, asked him if he +would buy it. + +The cunning Jew took the dish, examined it, and as soon as he found +that it was good silver, asked Aladdin at how much he valued it. + +Aladdin, who had never been used to such traffic, told him he would +trust to his judgment and honor. The Jew was somewhat confounded at +this plain dealing; and doubting whether Aladdin understood the +material or the full value of what he offered to sell, took a piece of +gold out of his purse and gave it him, though it was but the sixtieth +part of the worth of the plate. Aladdin, taking the money very +eagerly, retired with so much haste that the Jew, not content with the +exorbitancy of his profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into his +ignorance, and was going to run after him, to endeavor to get some +change out of the piece of gold. But the boy ran so fast, and had got +so far, that it would have been impossible to overtake him. + +Before Aladdin went home he called at a baker's, bought some cakes of +bread, changed his money, and on his return gave the rest to his +mother, who went and purchased provisions enough to last them some +time. After this manner they lived, until Aladdin had sold the twelve +dishes singly, as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the same money; +who, after the first time, durst not offer him less, for fear of +losing so good a bargain. When he had sold the last dish, he had +recourse to the tray, which weighed ten times as much as the dishes, +and would have carried it to his old purchaser, but that it was too +large and cumbersome; therefore he was obliged to bring him home with +him to his mother's, where, after the Jew had examined the weight of +the tray, he laid down ten pieces of gold, with which Aladdin was very +well satisfied. + +When all the money was spent, Aladdin had recourse again to the lamp. +He took it in his hands, looked for the part where his mother had +rubbed it with the sand, and rubbed it also. The genie immediately +appeared, and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee +as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their +hands; I, and the other slaves of the lamp." + +"I am hungry," said Aladdin. "Bring me something to eat." + +The genie disappeared, and presently returned with a tray holding the +same number of covered dishes as before, set it down, and vanished. + +As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were again expended, he +took one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew chapman. But as +he was passing by a goldsmith's shop, the goldsmith perceiving him, +called to him, and said, "My lad, I imagine that you have something to +sell to the Jew, whom I often see you visit. Perhaps you do not know +that he is the greatest rogue even among the Jews. I will give you the +full worth of what you have to sell, or I will direct you to other +merchants who will not cheat you." + +This offer induced Aladdin to pull his plate from under his vest and +show it to the goldsmith. At first sight he perceived that it was made +of the finest silver, and asked if he had sold such as that to the +Jew. When Aladdin told him he had sold him twelve such, for a piece of +gold each, "What a villain!" cried the goldsmith. "But," added he, "my +son, what is past cannot be recalled. By showing you the value of this +plate, which is of the finest silver we use in our shops, I will let +you see how much the Jew has cheated you." + +The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and assured him +that his plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, which he +offered to pay down immediately. + +Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and never after went to any +other person. + +Though Aladdin and his mother had an inexhaustible treasure in their +lamp, and might have had whatever they wished for, yet they lived with +the same frugality as before, and it may easily be supposed that the +money for which Aladdin had sold the dishes and tray was sufficient to +maintain them some time. + +During this interval, Aladdin frequented the shops of the principal +merchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver, linens, silk +stuffs, and jewelry, and, oftentimes joining in their conversation, +acquired a knowledge of the world, and a desire to improve himself. By +his acquaintance among the jewelers, he came to know that the fruits +which he had gathered when he took the lamp were, instead of colored +glass, stones of inestimable value; but he had the prudence not to +mention this to any one, not even to his mother. + +One day as Aladdin was walking about the town he heard an order +proclaimed, commanding the people to shut up their shops and houses, +and keep within doors while the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the +sultan's daughter, went to the bath and returned. + +This proclamation inspired Aladdin with eager desire to see the +princess's face, which he determined to gratify by placing himself +behind the door of the bath, so that he could not fail to see her +face. + +Aladdin had not long concealed himself before the princess came. She +was attended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves, and mutes, who walked +on each side and behind her. When she came within three or four paces +of the door of the bath, she took off her veil, and gave Aladdin an +opportunity of a full view of her face. + +The princess was a noted beauty; her eyes were large, lively, and +sparkling; her smile bewitching; her nose faultless; her mouth small; +her lips vermilion. It is not therefore surprising that Aladdin, who +had never before seen such a blaze of charms, was dazzled and +enchanted. + +After the princess had passed by, and entered the bath, Aladdin +quitted his hiding place, and went home. His mother perceived him to +be more thoughtful and melancholy than usual, and asked what had +happened to make him so, or if he were ill. He then told his mother +all his adventure, and concluded by declaring, "I love the princess +more than I can express, and am resolved that I will ask her in +marriage of the sultan." + +Aladdin's mother listened with surprise to what her son told her. When +he talked of asking the princess in marriage, she laughed aloud. + +"Alas! child," said she, "what are you thinking of? You must be mad to +talk thus." + +"I assure you, mother," replied Aladdin, "that I am not mad, but in my +right senses. I foresaw that you would reproach me with folly and +extravagance; but I must tell you once more that I am resolved to +demand the princess of the sultan in marriage; nor do I despair of +success. I have the slaves of the lamp and of the ring to help me, and +you know how powerful their aid is. And I have another secret to tell +you; those pieces of glass, which I got from the trees in the garden +of the subterranean palace, are jewels of inestimable value, and fit +for the greatest monarchs. All the precious stones the jewelers have +in Bagdad are not to be compared to mine for size or beauty; and I am +sure that the offer of them will secure the favor of the sultan. You +have a large porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, and let us see +how they will look, when we have arranged them according to their +different colors." + +Aladdin's mother brought the china dish. Then he took the jewels out +of the two purses in which he had kept them, and placed them in order, +according to his fancy. But the brightness and luster they emitted in +the daytime, and the variety of the colors, so dazzled the eyes both +of mother and son that they were astonished beyond measure. Aladdin's +mother, emboldened by the sight of these rich jewels, and fearful lest +her son should be guilty of greater extravagance, complied with his +request, and promised to go early the next morning to the palace of +the sultan. Aladdin rose before daybreak, awakened his mother, +pressing her to go to the sultan's palace and to get admittance, if +possible, before the grand vizier, the other viziers, and the great +officers of state went in to take their seats in the divan, where the +sultan always attended in person. + +Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which they had put the jewels +the day before, wrapped it in two fine napkins, and set forward for +the sultan's palace. When she came to the gates the grand vizier, the +other viziers, and most distinguished lords of the court were just +gone in; but notwithstanding the crowd of people was great, she got +into the divan, a spacious hall, the entrance into which was very +magnificent. She placed herself just before the sultan, and the grand +vizier and the great lords, who sat in council on his right and left +hand. Several causes were called, according to their order, pleaded +and adjudged, until the time the divan generally broke up, when the +sultan, rising, returned to his apartment, attended by the grand +vizier; the other viziers and ministers of state then retired, as also +did all those whose business had called them thither. + +Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and all the people depart, +judged rightly that he would not sit again that day, and resolved to +go home. On her arrival she said, with much simplicity, "Son, I have +seen the sultan, and am very well persuaded he has seen me, too, for I +placed myself just before him; but he was so much taken up with those +who attended on all sides of him that I pitied him, and wondered at +his patience. At last I believe he was heartily tired, for he rose up +suddenly, and would not hear a great many who were ready prepared to +speak to him, but went away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed I +began to lose all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying so +long. But there is no harm done; I will go again to-morrow. Perhaps +the sultan may not be so busy." + +The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the present +as early as the day before; but when she came there, she found the +gates of the divan shut.[43] She went six times afterward on the days +appointed, placed herself always directly before the sultan, but with +as little success as the first morning. + +[Footnote 43: Sir Paul Ricaut says that the divan is not held on two +successive days.] + +On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when the +sultan returned to his own apartment he said to his grand vizier: "I +have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends constantly +every day that I give audience, with something wrapped up in a +napkin; she always stands up from the beginning to the breaking up of +the audience, and effects to place herself just before me. If this +woman comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I may +hear what she has to say." + +The grand vizier made answer by lowering his hand, and then lifting it +up above his head, signifying his willingness to lose it if he failed. + +On the next audience day, when Aladdin's mother went to the divan, and +placed herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand vizier +immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and pointing to her +bade him bring her before the sultan. The old woman at once followed +the mace-bearer, and when she reached the sultan, bowed her head down +to the carpet which covered the platform of the throne, and remained +in that posture until he bade her rise. + +She had no sooner done so, than he said to her, "Good woman, I have +observed you to stand many days from the beginning to the rising of +the divan. What business brings you here?" + +At these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time, and +when she arose, said, "Monarch of monarchs, I beg of you to pardon the +boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your pardon and +forgiveness." + +"Well," replied the sultan, "I will forgive you, be it what it may, +and no hurt shall come to you. Speak boldly." + +When Aladdin's mother had taken all these precautions, for fear of the +sultan's anger, she told him faithfully the errand on which her son +had sent her, and the event which led to his making so bold a request +in spite of all her remonstrances. + +The sultan hearkened to this discourse without showing the least +anger. But before he gave her any answer, he asked her what she had +brought tied up in the napkin. She took the china dish which she had +set down at the foot of the throne, untied it, and presented it to the +sultan. + +The sultan's amazement and surprise were inexpressible, when he saw so +many large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in the dish. He +remained for some time lost in admiration. At last, when he had +recovered himself, he received the present from Aladdin's mother's +hand, saying, "How rich, how beautiful!" + +After he had admired and handled all the jewels one after another, he +turned to his grand vizier, and showing him the dish, said, "Behold, +admire, wonder! And confess that your eyes never beheld jewels so rich +and beautiful before." + +The vizier was charmed. + +"Well," continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such a present? Is +it not worthy of the princess my daughter? And ought I not to bestow +her on one who values her at so great a price?" + +"I cannot but own," replied the grand vizier, "that the present is +worthy of the princess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three +months before you come to a final resolution. I hope, before that +time, my son, whom you have regarded with your favor, will be able to +make a nobler present than this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to +your majesty." + +The sultan granted his request, and he said to the old woman, "Good +woman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to the proposal you +have made me; but I cannot marry the princess my daughter for three +months. At the expiration of that time, come again." + +Aladdin's mother returned home much more gratified than she had +expected, and told her son with much joy the condescending answer she +had received from the sultan's own mouth; and that she was to come to +the divan again that day three months. + +At hearing this news, Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all +men, and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the affair, +the good success of which was of so great importance to his peace that +he counted every day, week, and even hour as it passed. When two of +the three months were passed, his mother one evening, having no oil in +the house, went out to buy some, and found a general rejoicing--the +houses dressed with foliage, silks, and carpeting, and every one +striving to show his joy according to his ability. The streets were +crowded with officers in habits of ceremony, mounted on horses richly +caparisoned, each attended by a great many footmen. Aladdin's mother +asked the oil merchant what was the meaning of all this preparation of +public festivity. + +"Whence came you, good woman," said he, "that you don't know that the +grand vizier's son is to marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the +sultan's daughter, to-night? She will presently return from the bath; +and these officers whom you see are to assist at the cavalcade to the +palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnized." + +Aladdin's mother, on hearing this news, ran home very quickly. + +"Child," cried she, "you are undone! The sultan's fine promises will +come to naught. This night the grand vizier's son is to marry the +Princess Buddir al Buddoor." + +At this account Aladdin was thunderstruck. He bethought himself of the +lamp, and of the genie who had promised to obey him; and without +indulging in idle words against the sultan, the vizier, or his son, he +determined, if possible, to prevent the marriage. + +When Aladdin had got into his chamber he took the lamp, and rubbing it +in the same place as before, immediately the genie appeared, and said +to him, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave; +I, and the other slaves of the lamp." + +"Hear me," said Aladdin. "Thou hast hitherto obeyed me, but now I am +about to impose on thee a harder task. The sultan's daughter, who was +promised me as my bride, is this night married to the son of the grand +vizier. Bring them both hither to me immediately they retire to their +bedchamber." + +"Master," replied the genie, "I obey you." + +Aladdin supped with his mother as was their wont, and then went to his +own apartment, and sat up to await the return of the genie, according +to his commands. + +In the meantime the festivities in honor of the princess's marriage +were conducted in the sultan's palace with great magnificence. The +ceremonies were at last brought to a conclusion, and the princess and +the son of the vizier retired to the bedchamber prepared for them. No +sooner had they entered it, and dismissed their attendants, than the +genie, the faithful slave of the lamp, to the great amazement and +alarm of the bride and bridegroom took up the bed, and by an agency +invisible to them, transported it in an instant into Aladdin's +chamber, where he set it down. + +"Remove the bridegroom," said Aladdin to the genie, "and keep him a +prisoner till to-morrow dawn, and then return with him here." On +Aladdin being left alone with the princess, he endeavored to assuage +her fears, and explained to her the treachery practiced upon him by +the sultan her father. He then laid himself down beside her, putting a +drawn scimitar between them, to show that he was determined to secure +her safety, and to treat her with the utmost possible respect. At +break of day, the genie appeared at the appointed hour, bringing back +the bridegroom, whom by breathing upon he had left motionless and +entranced at the door of Aladdin's chamber during the night, and at +Aladdin's command transported the couch, with the bride and bridegroom +on it, by the same invisible agency, into the palace of the sultan. + +At the instant that the genie had set down the couch with the bride +and bridegroom in their own chamber, the sultan came to the door to +offer his good wishes to his daughter. The grand vizier's son, who was +almost perished with cold, by standing in his thin under-garment all +night, no sooner heard the knocking at the door than he got out of +bed, and ran into the robing-chamber, where he had undressed himself +the night before. + +The sultan, having opened the door, went to the bed-side, and kissed +the princess on the forehead, but was extremely surprised to see her +look so melancholy. She only cast at him a sorrowful look, expressive +of great affliction. He suspected there was something extraordinary +in this silence, and thereupon went immediately to the sultaness's +apartment, told her in what a state he found the princess, and how she +had received him. + +"Sire," said the sultaness, "I will go and see her. She will not +receive me in the same manner." + +The princess received her mother with sighs and tears, and signs of +deep dejection. At last, upon her pressing on her the duty of telling +her all her thoughts, she gave to the sultaness a precise description +of all that happened to her during the night; on which the sultaness +enjoined on her the necessity of silence and discretion, as no one +would give credence to so strange a tale. The grand vizier's son, +elated with the honor of being the sultan's son-in-law, kept silence +on his part, and the events of the night were not allowed to cast the +least gloom on the festivities on the following day, in continued +celebration of the royal marriage. + +When night came, the bride and bridegroom were again attended to their +chamber with the same ceremonies as on the preceding evening. Aladdin, +knowing that this would be so, had already given his commands to the +genie of the lamp; and no sooner were they alone than their bed was +removed in the same mysterious manner as on the preceding evening; and +having passed the night in the same unpleasant way, they were in the +morning conveyed to the palace of the sultan. Scarcely had they been +replaced in their apartment, when the sultan came to make his +compliments to his daughter. The princess could no longer conceal from +him the unhappy treatment she had been subjected to, and told him all +that had happened, as she had already related it to her mother. + +The sultan, on hearing these strange tidings, consulted with the grand +vizier; and finding from him that his son had been subjected by an +invisible agency to even worse treatment, he determined to declare the +marriage canceled, and all the festivities, which were yet to last for +several days, countermanded and terminated. + +This sudden change in the mind of the sultan gave rise to various +speculations and reports. Nobody but Aladdin knew the secret, and he +kept it with the most scrupulous silence. Neither the sultan nor the +grand vizier, who had forgotten Aladdin and his request, had the least +thought that he had any hand in the strange adventures that befell the +bride and bridegroom. + +On the very day that the three months contained in the sultan's +promise expired, the mother of Aladdin again went to the palace, and +stood in the same place in the divan. The sultan knew her again, and +directed his vizier to have her brought before him. + +After having prostrated herself, she made answer, in reply to the +sultan: "Sire, I come at the end of three months to ask of you the +fulfillment of the promise you made to my son." + +The sultan little thought the request of Aladdin's mother was made to +him in earnest, or that he would hear any more of the matter. He +therefore took counsel with his vizier, who suggested that the sultan +should attach such conditions to the marriage that no one of the +humble condition of Aladdin could possibly fulfill. In accordance with +this suggestion of the vizier, the sultan replied to the mother of +Aladdin: "Good woman, it is true sultans ought to abide by their word, +and I am ready to keep mine, by making your son happy in marriage +with the princess my daughter. But as I cannot marry her without some +further proof of your son being able to support her in royal state, +you may tell him I will fulfill my promise as soon as he shall send me +forty trays of massy gold, full of the same sort of jewels you have +already made me a present of, and carried by the like number of black +slaves, who shall be led by as many young and handsome white slaves, +all dressed magnificently. On these conditions I am ready to bestow +the princess my daughter upon him; therefore, good woman, go and tell +him so, and I will wait till you bring me his answer." + +Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time before the sultan's +throne, and retired. On her way home, she laughed within herself at +her son's foolish imagination. "Where," said she, "can he get so many +large gold trays, and such precious stones to fill them? It is +altogether out of his power, and I believe he will not be much pleased +with my embassy this time." + +When she came home, full of these thoughts, she told Aladdin all the +circumstances of her interview with the sultan, and the conditions on +which he consented to the marriage. "The sultan expects your answer +immediately," said she; and then added, laughing, "I believe he may +wait long enough!" + +"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied Aladdin. "This demand +is a mere trifle, and will prove no bar to my marriage with the +princess. I will prepare at once to satisfy his request." + +Aladdin retired to his own apartment and summoned the genie of the +lamp, and required him to immediately prepare and present the gift, +before the sultan closed his morning audience, according to the terms +in which it had been prescribed. The genie professed his obedience to +the owner of the lamp, and disappeared. Within a very short time, a +train of forty black slaves, led by the same number of white slaves, +appeared opposite the house in which Aladdin lived. Each black slave +carried on his head a basin of massy gold, full of pearls, diamonds, +rubies, and emeralds. + +Aladdin then addressed his mother: "Madam, pray lose no time; before +the sultan and the divan rise, I would have you return to the palace +with this present as the dowry demanded for the princess, that he may +judge by my diligence and exactness of the ardent and sincere desire I +have to procure myself the honor of this alliance." + +As soon as this magnificent procession, with Aladdin's mother at its +head, had begun to march from Aladdin's house, the whole city was +filled with the crowds of people desirous to see so grand a sight. The +graceful bearing, elegant form, and wonderful likeness of each slave; +their grave walk at an equal distance from each other, the luster of +their jeweled girdles, and the brilliancy of the aigrettes of precious +stones in their turbans, excited the greatest admiration in the +spectators. As they had to pass through several streets to the palace, +the whole length of the way was lined with files of spectators. +Nothing, indeed, was ever seen so beautiful and brilliant in the +sultan's palace, and the richest robes of the emirs of his court were +not to be compared to the costly dresses of these slaves, whom they +supposed to be kings. + +As the sultan, who had been informed of their approach, had given +orders for them to be admitted, they met with no obstacle, but went +into the divan in regular order, one part turning to the right and the +other to the left. After they were all entered, and had formed a +semi-circle before the sultan's throne, the black slaves laid the +golden trays on the carpet, prostrated themselves, touching the carpet +with their foreheads, and at the same time the white slaves did the +same. When they rose, the black slaves uncovered the trays, and then +all stood with their arms crossed over their breasts. + +In the meantime, Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of the throne, +and having prostrated herself, said to the sultan, "Sire, my son knows +this present is much below the notice of Princess Buddir al Buddoor; +but hopes, nevertheless, that your majesty will accept of it, and make +it agreeable to the princess, and with the greater confidence since he +has endeavored to conform to the conditions you were pleased to +impose." + +The sultan, overpowered by the sight of such more than royal +magnificence, replied without hesitation to the words of Aladdin's +mother: "Go and tell your son that I wait with open arms to embrace +him; and the more haste he makes to come and receive the princess my +daughter from my hands, the greater pleasure he will do me." + +As soon as Aladdin's mother had retired, the sultan put an end to the +audience. Rising from his throne, he ordered that the princess's +attendants should come and carry the trays into their mistress's +apartment, whither he went himself to examine them with her at his +leisure. The fourscore slaves were conducted into the palace; and the +sultan, telling the princess of their magnificent apparel, ordered +them to be brought before her apartment, that she might see through +the lattices he had not exaggerated in his account of them. + +In the meantime Aladdin's mother reached home, and showed in her air +and countenance the good news she brought to her son. "My son," said +she, "you may rejoice you are arrived at the height of your desires. +The sultan has declared that you shall marry the Princess Buddir al +Buddoor. He waits for you with impatience." + +Aladdin, enraptured with this news, made his mother very little reply, +but retired to his chamber. There he rubbed his lamp, and the obedient +genie appeared. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "convey me at once to a bath, and supply me +with the richest and most magnificent robe ever worn by a monarch." + +No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the genie rendered him, +as well as himself, invisible, and transported him into a hummum[44] +of the finest marble of all sorts of colors; where he was undressed, +without seeing by whom, in a magnificent and spacious hall. He was +then well rubbed and washed with various scented waters. After he had +passed through several degrees of heat, he came out quite a different +man from what he was before. His skin was clear as that of a child, +his body lightsome and free; and when he returned into the hall, he +found, instead of his own poor raiment, a robe, the magnificence of +which astonished him. The genie helped him to dress, and when he had +done, transported him back to his own chamber, where he asked him if +he had any other commands. + +[Footnote 44: A Turkish word for a bath.] + +"Yes," answered Aladdin, "bring me a charger that surpasses in beauty +and goodness the best in the sultan's stables; with a saddle, bridle, +and other caparisons to correspond with his value. Furnish also twenty +slaves, as richly clothed as those who carried the present to the +sultan, to walk by my side and follow me, and twenty more to go before +me in two ranks. Besides these, bring my mother six women slaves to +attend her, as richly dressed at least as any of the Princess Buddir +al Buddoor's, each carrying a complete dress fit for any sultaness. I +want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses; go, and make +haste." + +As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the genie disappeared, but +presently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom +carried each a purse containing ten thousand pieces of gold, and six +women slaves, each carrying on her head a different dress for +Aladdin's mother, wrapped up in a piece of silver tissue, and +presented them all to Aladdin. + +He presented the six women slaves to his mother, telling her they were +her slaves, and that the dresses they had brought were for her use. Of +the ten purses Aladdin took four, which he gave to his mother, telling +her those were to supply her with necessaries; the other six he left +in the hands of the slaves who brought them, with an order to throw +them by handfuls among the people as they went to the sultan's palace. +The six slaves who carried the purses he ordered likewise to march +before him, three on the right hand and three on the left. + +When Aladdin had thus prepared himself for his first interview with +the sultan, he dismissed the genie, and immediately mounting his +charger, began his march, and though he never was on horseback before, +appeared with a grace the most experienced horseman might envy. The +innumerable concourse of people through whom he passed made the air +echo with their acclamations, especially every time the six slaves who +carried the purses threw handfuls of gold among the populace. + +On Aladdin's arrival at the palace, the sultan was surprised to find +him more richly and magnificently robed than he had ever been himself, +and was impressed with his good looks and dignity of manner, which +were so different from what he expected in the son of one so humble as +Aladdin's mother. He embraced him with all the demonstrations of joy, +and when he would have fallen at his feet, held him by the hand, and +made him sit near his throne. He shortly after led him, amidst the +sounds of trumpets, hautboys, and all kinds of music, to a magnificent +entertainment, at which the sultan and Aladdin ate by themselves, and +the great lords of the court, according to their rank and dignity, sat +at different tables. + +After the feast, the sultan sent for the chief cadi, and commanded him +to draw up a contract of marriage between the Princess Buddir al +Buddoor and Aladdin. When the contract had been drawn, the sultan +asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace and complete the +ceremonies of the marriage that day. + +"Sire," said Aladdin, "though great is my impatience to enter on the +honor granted me by your majesty, yet I beg you to permit me first to +build a palace worthy to receive the princess your daughter. I pray +you to grant me sufficient ground near your palace, and I will have it +completed with the utmost expedition." + +The sultan granted Aladdin his request, and again embraced him. After +which he took his leave with as much politeness as if he had been bred +up and had always lived at court. + +Aladdin returned home in the order he had come, amidst the +acclamations of the people, who wished him all happiness and +prosperity. As soon as he dismounted, he retired to his own chamber, +took the lamp, and summoned the genie as usual, who professed his +allegiance. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "build me a palace fit to receive the Princess +Buddir al Buddoor. Let its materials be made of nothing less than +porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, and the finest marble. Let its +walls be massive gold and silver bricks and laid alternately. Let each +front contain six windows, and let the lattices of these (except one, +which must be left unfinished) be enriched with diamonds, rubies, and +emeralds, so that they shall exceed everything of the kind ever seen +in the world. Let there be an inner and outer court in front of the +palace, and a spacious garden; but above all things, provide a safe +treasure house, and fill it with gold and silver. Let there be also +kitchens and storehouses, stables full of the finest horses, with +their equerries and grooms, and hunting equipage, officers, +attendants, and slaves, both men and women, to form a retinue for the +princess and myself. Go and execute my wishes." + +When Aladdin gave these commands to the genie, the sun was set. The +next morning at daybreak the genie presented himself, and, having +obtained Aladdin's consent, transported him in a moment to the palace +he had made. The genie led him through all the apartments, where he +found officers and slaves, habited according to their rank and the +services to which they were appointed. The genie then showed him the +treasury, which was opened by a treasurer, where Aladdin saw large +vases of different sizes, piled up to the top with money, ranged all +around the chamber. The genie thence led him to the stables, where +were some of the finest horses in the world, and the grooms busy in +dressing them; from thence they went to the storehouses, which were +filled with all things necessary, both for food and ornament. + +When Aladdin had examined every portion of the palace, and +particularly the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and found it +far to exceed his fondest expectations, he said, "Genie, there is one +thing wanting, a fine carpet for the princess to walk upon from the +sultan's palace to mine. Lay one down immediately." The genie +disappeared, and Aladdin saw what he desired executed in an instant. +The genie then returned, and carried him to his own home. + +When the sultan's porters came to open the gates, they were amazed to +find what had been an unoccupied garden filled up with a magnificent +palace, and a splendid carpet extending to it all the way from the +sultan's palace. They told the strange tidings to the grand vizier, +who informed the sultan. + +"It must be Aladdin's palace," the sultan exclaimed, "which I gave him +leave to build for my daughter. He has wished to surprise us, and let +us see what wonders can be done in only one night." + +Aladdin, on his being conveyed by the genie to his own home, requested +his mother to go to the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, and tell her that +the palace would be ready for her reception in the evening. She went, +attended by her women slaves, in the same order as on the preceding +day. Shortly after her arrival at the princess's apartment the sultan +himself came in, and was surprised to find her, whom he knew only as +his suppliant at his divan in humble guise, more richly and +sumptuously attired than his own daughter. This gave him a higher +opinion of Aladdin, who took such care of his mother, and made her +share his wealth and honors. + +Shortly after her departure, Aladdin, mounting his horse and attended +by his retinue of magnificent attendants, left his paternal home +forever, and went to the palace in the same pomp as on the day before. +Nor did he forget to take with him the wonderful lamp, to which he +owed all his good fortune, nor to wear the ring which was given him as +a talisman. + +The sultan entertained Aladdin with the utmost magnificence, and at +night, on the conclusion of the marriage ceremonies, the princess took +leave of the sultan her father. Bands of music led the procession, +followed by a hundred state ushers, and the like number of black +mutes, in two files, with their officers at their head. Four hundred +of the sultan's young pages carried flambeaux on each side, which, +together with the illuminations of the sultan's and Aladdin's palaces, +made it as light as day. In this order the princess, conveyed in her +litter, and accompanied also by Aladdin's mother, carried in a superb +litter and attended by her women slaves, proceeded on the carpet which +was spread from the sultan's palace to that of Aladdin. + +On her arrival Aladdin was ready to receive her at the entrance, and +led her into a large hall, illuminated with an infinite number of wax +candles, where a noble feast was served up. The dishes were of massy +gold, and contained the most delicate viands. The vases, basins, and +goblets were gold also, and of exquisite workmanship, and all the +other ornaments and embellishments of the hall were answerable to this +display. The princess, dazzled to see so much riches collected in one +place, said to Aladdin, "I thought, prince, that nothing in the world +was so beautiful as the sultan my father's palace, but the sight of +this hall alone is sufficient to show I was mistaken." + +When the supper was ended, there entered a company of female +dancers,[45] who performed, according to the custom of the country, +singing at the same time verses in praise of the bride and bridegroom. +About midnight Aladdin's mother conducted the bride to the nuptial +apartment, and he soon after retired. + +[Footnote 45: These were the "Nautch girls," attached to this day to +all Eastern courts.] + +The next morning the attendants of Aladdin presented themselves to +dress him, and brought him another habit, as rich and magnificent as +that worn the day before. He then ordered one of the horses to be got +ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of a large troop of slaves +to the sultan's palace to entreat him to take a repast in the +princess's palace, attended by his grand vizier and all the lords of +his court. The sultan consented with pleasure, rose up immediately, +and, preceded by the principal officers of his palace, and followed by +all the great lords of his court, accompanied Aladdin. + +The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin's palace, the more he was +struck with its beauty; but when he entered it, when he came into the +hall and saw the windows, enriched with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, +all large perfect stones, he was completely surprised, and said to his +son-in-law, "This palace is one of the wonders of the world; for where +in all the world besides shall we find walls built of massy gold and +silver, and diamonds, rubies, and emeralds composing the windows? But +what most surprises me is that a hall of this magnificence should be +left with one of its windows incomplete and unfinished." + +"Sire," answered Aladdin, "the omission was by design, since I wished +that you should have the glory of finishing this hall." + +"I take your intention kindly," said the sultan, "and will give orders +about it immediately." + +After the sultan had finished this magnificent entertainment, provided +for him and for his court by Aladdin, he was informed that the +jewelers and goldsmiths attended; upon which he returned to the hall, +and showed them the window which was unfinished. + +"I sent for you," said he, "to fit up this window in as great +perfection as the rest. Examine them well, and make all the dispatch +you can." + +The jewelers and goldsmiths examined the three-and-twenty windows with +great attention, and after they had consulted together, to know what +each could furnish, they returned, and presented themselves before the +sultan, whose principal jeweler, undertaking to speak for the rest, +said, "Sire, we are all willing to exert our utmost care and industry +to obey you; but among us all we cannot furnish jewels enough for so +great a work." + +"I have more than are necessary," said the sultan. "Come to my palace, +and you shall choose what may answer your purpose." + +When the sultan returned to his palace he ordered his jewels to be +brought out, and the jewelers took a great quantity, particularly +those Aladdin had made him a present of, which they soon used, without +making any great advance in their work. They came again several times +for more, and in a month's time had not finished half their work. In +short, they used all the jewels the sultan had, and borrowed of the +vizier, but yet the work was not half done. + +Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeavors to make this window +like the rest were in vain, sent for the jewelers and goldsmiths, and +not only commanded them to desist from their work, but ordered them to +undo what they had begun, and to carry all their jewels back to the +sultan and to the vizier. They undid in a few hours what they had been +six weeks about, and retired, leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He +took the lamp, which he carried about him, rubbed it, and presently +the genie appeared. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to leave one of the +four-and-twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thou hast executed +my commands exactly; now I would have thee make it like the rest." + +The genie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the hall, and +returning soon after, found the window, as he wished it to be, like +the others. + +In the meantime the jewelers and goldsmiths repaired to the palace, +and were introduced into the sultan's presence, where the chief +jeweler presented the precious stones which he had brought back. The +sultan asked them if Aladdin had given them any reason for so doing, +and they answering that he had given them none, he ordered a horse to +be brought, which he mounted, and rode to his son-in-law's palace, +with some few attendants on foot, to inquire why he had ordered the +completion of the window to be stopped. + +Aladdin met him at the gate, and without giving any reply to his +inquiries conducted him to the grand saloon, where the sultan, to his +great surprise, found that the window, which was left imperfect, +corresponded exactly with the others. He fancied at first that he was +mistaken, and examined the two windows on each side, and afterward all +the four-and-twenty; but when he was convinced that the window which +several workmen had been so long about was finished in so short a +time, he embraced Aladdin and kissed him between his eyes. + +"My son," said he, "what a man you are to do such surprising things +always in the twinkling of an eye! There is not your fellow in the +world; the more I know, the more I admire you." + +The sultan returned to the palace, and after this went frequently to +the window to contemplate and admire the wonderful palace of his +son-in-law. + +Aladdin did not confine himself in his palace, but went with much +state, sometimes to one mosque, and sometimes to another, to prayers, +or to visit the grand vizier or the principal lords of the court. +Every time he went out he caused two slaves, who walked by the side of +his horse, to throw handfuls of money among the people as he passed +through the streets and squares. This generosity gained him the love +and blessings of the people, and it was common for them to swear by +his head.[46] Thus Aladdin, while he paid all respect to the sultan, +won by his affable behavior and liberality the affection of the +people. + +[Footnote 46: There is a trace of this custom in Joseph swearing to +his brethren, "By the life of Pharaoh, ye are spies!"] + +Aladdin had conducted himself in this manner several years, when the +African magician, who had for some years dismissed him from his +recollection, determined to inform himself with certainty whether he +perished, as he supposed, in the subterranean cave or not. After he +had resorted to a long course of magic ceremonies, and had formed a +horoscope by which to ascertain Aladdin's fate, what was his surprise +to find the appearances to declare that Aladdin, instead of dying in +the cave, had made his escape, and was living in royal splendor by the +aid of the genie of the wonderful lamp! + +On the very next day the magician set out, and traveled with the +utmost haste to the capital of China, where, on his arrival, he took +up his lodgings in a khan. + +He then quickly learned about the wealth, charities, happiness, and +splendid palace of Prince Aladdin. Directly he saw the wonderful +fabric, he knew that none but the genies, the slaves of the lamp, +could have performed such wonders, and, piqued to the quick at +Aladdin's high estate, he returned to the khan. + +On his return he had recourse to an operation of geomancy to find out +where the lamp was--whether Aladdin carried it about with him, or +where he left it. The result of his consultation informed him, to his +great joy, that the lamp was in the palace. + +"Well," said he, rubbing his hands in glee, "I shall have the lamp, +and I shall make Aladdin return to his original mean condition." + +The next day the magician learned from the chief superintendent of +the khan where he lodged that Aladdin had gone on a hunting expedition +which was to last for eight days, of which only three had expired. The +magician wanted to know no more. He resolved at once on his plans. He +went to a coppersmith, and asked for a dozen copper lamps; the master +of the shop told him he had not so many by him, but if he would have +patience till the next day he would have them ready. The magician +appointed his time, and desired him to take care that they should be +handsome and well polished. + +The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, paid the man +his full price, put them into a basket hanging on his arm, and went +directly to Aladdin's palace. As he approached, he began crying, "Who +will exchange old lamps for new?" And as he went along, a crowd of +children collected, who hooted, and thought him, as did all who +chanced to be passing by, a madman or a fool to offer to exchange new +lamps for old. + +The African magician regarded not their scoffs, hootings, or all they +could say to him, but still continued crying, "Who will exchange old +lamps for new?" He repeated this so often, walking backward and +forward in front of the palace, that the princess, who was then in the +hall of the four-and-twenty windows, hearing a man cry something, and +seeing a great mob crowding about him, sent one of her women slaves to +know what he cried. + +The slave returned, laughing so heartily that the princess rebuked +her. + +"Madam," answered the slave, laughing still, "who can forbear +laughing, to see an old man with a basket on his arm, full of fine new +lamps, asking to exchange them for old ones? The children and mob, +crowding about him so that he can hardly stir, make all the noise +they can in derision of him." + +Another female slave, hearing this, said, "Now you speak of lamps, I +know not whether the princess may have observed it, but there is an +old one upon a shelf of the Prince Aladdin's robing room, and whoever +owns it will not be sorry to find a new one in its stead. If the +princess chooses, she may have the pleasure of trying if this old man +is so silly as to give a new lamp for an old one, without taking +anything for the exchange." + +The princess, who knew not the value of the lamp and the interest that +Aladdin had to keep it safe, entered into the pleasantry and commanded +a slave to take it and make the exchange. The slave obeyed, went out +of the hall, and no sooner got to the palace gates than he saw the +African magician, called to him, and showing him the old lamp, said, +"Give me a new lamp for this." + +The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. There +could be no other such in this palace, where every utensil was gold or +silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the slave's hand, and thrusting +it as far as he could into his breast, offered him his basket, and +bade him choose which he liked best. The slave picked out one and +carried it to the princess; but the change was no sooner made than the +place rang with the shouts of the children, deriding the magician's +folly. + +The African magician stayed no longer near the palace, nor cried any +more, "New lamps for old," but made the best of his way to his khan. +His end was answered, and by his silence he got rid of the children +and the mob. + +As soon as he was out of sight of the two palaces he hastened down +the least-frequented streets. Having no more occasion for his lamps or +basket, he set all down in a spot where nobody saw him; then going +down another street or two, he walked till he came to one of the city +gates, and pursuing his way through the suburbs, which were very +extensive, at length he reached a lonely spot, where he stopped till +the darkness of the night, as the most suitable time for the design he +had in contemplation. + +When it became quite dark, he pulled the lamp out of his breast and +rubbed it. At that summons the genie appeared, and said, "What wouldst +thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all +those who have that lamp in their hands; both I and the other slaves +of the lamp." + +"I command thee," replied the magician, "to transport me immediately, +and the palace which thou and the other slaves of the lamp have built +in this city, with all the people in it, to Africa." + +The genie made no reply, but with the assistance of the other genies, +the slaves of the lamp, immediately transported him and the palace, +entire, to the spot whither he had been desired to convey it. + +Early the next morning when the sultan, according to custom, went to +contemplate and admire Aladdin's palace, his amazement was unbounded +to find that it could nowhere be seen. He could not comprehend how so +large a palace, which he had seen plainly every day for some years, +should vanish so soon and not leave the least remains behind. In his +perplexity he ordered the grand vizier to be sent for with expedition. + +The grand vizier, who, in secret, bore no good will to Aladdin, +intimated his suspicion that the palace was built by magic, and that +Aladdin had made his hunting excursion an excuse for the removal of +his palace with the same suddenness with which it had been erected. He +induced the sultan to send a detachment of his guard, and to have +Aladdin seized as a prisoner of state. + +On his son-in-law being brought before him, the sultan would not hear +a word from him, but ordered him to be put to death. But the decree +caused so much discontent among the people, whose affection Aladdin +had secured by his largesses and charities, that the sultan, fearful +of an insurrection, was obliged to grant him his life. + +When Aladdin found himself at liberty, he again addressed the sultan: +"Sire, I pray you to let me know the crime by which I have thus lost +the favor of thy countenance." + +"Your crime!" answered the sultan. "Wretched man, do you not know it? +Follow me, and I will show you." + +The sultan then took Aladdin into the apartment from whence he was +wont to look at and admire his palace, and said, "You ought to know +where your palace stood; look, mind, and tell me what has become of +it." + +Aladdin did so, and being utterly amazed at the loss of his palace, +was speechless. At last recovering himself, he said, "It is true, I do +not see the palace. It is vanished; but I had no concern in its +removal. I beg you to give me forty days, and if in that time I cannot +restore it, I will offer my head to be disposed of at your pleasure." + +"I give you the time you ask, but at the end of the forty days forget +not to present yourself before me." + +Aladdin went out of the sultan's palace in a condition of exceeding +humiliation. The lords who had courted him in the days of his splendor +now declined to have any communication with him. For three days he +wandered about the city, exciting the wonder and compassion of the +multitude by asking everybody he met if they had seen his palace, or +could tell him anything of it. On the third day he wandered into the +country, and as he was approaching a river he fell down the bank with +so much violence that he rubbed the ring which the magician had given +him so hard, by holding on to the rock to save himself, that +immediately the same genie appeared whom he had seen in the cave where +the magician had left him. + +"What wouldst thou have?" said the genie. "I am ready to obey thee as +thy slave, and the slave of all those that have that ring on their +finger; both I and the other slaves of the ring." + +Aladdin, agreeably surprised at an offer of help so little expected, +replied, "Genie, show me where the palace I caused to be built now +stands, or transport it back where it first stood." + +"Your command," answered the genie, "is not wholly in my power; I am +only the slave of the ring, and not of the lamp." + +"I command thee, then," replied Aladdin, "by the power of the ring, to +transport me to the spot where my palace stands, in what part of the +world soever it may be." + +These words were no sooner out of his mouth than the genie transported +him into Africa, to the midst of a large plain, where his palace +stood at no great distance from a city, and, placing him exactly under +the window of the princess's apartment, left him. + +Now it so happened that shortly after Aladdin had been transported by +the slave of the ring to the neighborhood of his palace, that one of +the attendants of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, looking through the +window, perceived him and instantly told her mistress. The princess, +who could not believe the joyful tidings, hastened herself to the +window, and seeing Aladdin, immediately opened it. The noise of +opening the window made Aladdin turn his head that way, and perceiving +the princess, he saluted her with an air that expressed his joy. + +"To lose no time," said she to him, "I have sent to have the private +door opened for you; enter, and come up." + +The private door, which was just under the princess's apartment, was +soon opened, and Aladdin was conducted up into the chamber. It is +impossible to express the joy of both at seeing each other, after so +cruel a separation. After embracing and shedding tears of joy, they +sat down, and Aladdin said, "I beg of you, princess, to tell me what +is become of an old lamp which stood upon a shelf in my robing +chamber." + +"Alas!" answered the princess, "I was afraid our misfortune might be +owing to that lamp; and what grieves me most is that I have been the +cause of it. I was foolish enough to exchange the old lamp for a new +one, and the next morning I found myself in this unknown country, +which I am told is Africa." + +"Princess," said Aladdin, interrupting her, "you have explained all +by telling me we are in Africa. I desire you only to tell me if you +know where the old lamp now is." + +"The African magician carries it carefully wrapped up in his bosom," +said the princess; "and this I can assure you, because he pulled it +out before me, and showed it to me in triumph." + +"Princess," said Aladdin, "I think I have found the means to deliver +you and to regain possession of the lamp, on which all my prosperity +depends. To execute this design, it is necessary for me to go to the +town. I shall return by noon, and will then tell you what must be done +by you to insure success. In the meantime, I shall disguise myself, +and I beg that the private door may be opened at the first knock." + +When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked round him on all sides, +and perceiving a peasant going into the country, hastened after him. +When he had overtaken him, he made a proposal to him to change +clothes, which the man agreed to. When they had made the exchange, the +countryman went about his business, and Aladdin entered the +neighboring city. After traversing several streets, he came to that +part of the town where the merchants and artisans had their particular +streets according to their trades.[47] He went into that of the +druggists; and entering one of the largest and best furnished shops, +asked the druggist if he had a certain powder, which he named. + +[Footnote 47: This location of persons of one trade in one part of a +town was once common in England. Hence the "Draper's Lane" and +"Butcher's Row," found in many of our large towns; and the "Old +Jewry," "Lombard Street," and "Cheapside," of London.] + +The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to be very poor, told him +he had it, but that it was very dear; upon which Aladdin, penetrating +his thoughts, pulled out his purse, and showing him some gold, asked +for half a dram of the powder, which the druggist weighed and gave +him, telling him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdin put the money +into his hand, and hastened to the palace, which he entered at once by +the private door. + +When he came into the princess's apartment he said to her, "Princess, +you must take your part in the scheme which I propose for our +deliverance. You must overcome your aversion for the magician, and +assume a most friendly manner toward him, and ask him to oblige you by +partaking of an entertainment in your apartments. Before he leaves, +ask him to exchange cups with you, which he, gratified at the honor +you do him, will gladly do, when you must give him the cup containing +this powder. On drinking it he will instantly fall asleep, and we will +obtain the lamp, whose slaves will do all our bidding, and restore us +and the palace to the capital of China." + +The princess obeyed to the utmost her husband's instructions. She +assumed a look of pleasure on the next visit of the magician, and +asked him to an entertainment, which he most willingly accepted. At +the close of the evening, during which the princess had tried all she +could to please him, she asked him to exchange cups with her, and +giving the signal, had the drugged cup brought to her, which she gave +to the magician. Out of compliment to the princess he drank it to the +very last drop, when he fell back lifeless on the sofa. + +The princess, in anticipation of the success of her scheme, had so +placed her women from the great hall to the foot of the staircase +that the word was no sooner given that the African magician was fallen +backward, than the door was opened, and Aladdin admitted to the hall. +The princess rose from her seat, and ran, overjoyed, to embrace him; +but he stopped her, and said, "Princess, retire to your apartment; and +let me be left alone, while I endeavor to transport you back to China +as speedily as you were brought from thence." + +When the princess, her women, and slaves were gone out of the hall, +Aladdin shut the door, and going directly to the dead body of the +magician, opened his vest, took out the lamp, which was carefully +wrapped up, and rubbing it, the genie immediately appeared. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "I command thee to transport this palace +instantly to the place from whence it was brought hither." + +The genie bowed his head in token of obedience, and disappeared. +Immediately the palace was transported into China, and its removal was +felt only by two little shocks, the one when it was lifted up, the +other when it was set down, and both in a very short interval of time. + +On the morning after the restoration of Aladdin's palace the sultan +was looking out of his window, mourning over the fate of his daughter, +when he thought that he saw the vacancy created by the disappearance +of the palace to be again filled up. + +On looking more attentively, he was convinced beyond the power of +doubt that it was his son-in-law's palace. Joy and gladness succeeded +to sorrow and grief. He at once ordered a horse to be saddled, which +he mounted that instant, thinking he could not make haste enough to +the place. + +Aladdin rose that morning by daybreak, put on one of the most +magnificent habits his wardrobe afforded, and went up into the hall of +the twenty-four windows, from whence he perceived the sultan +approaching, and received him at the foot of the great staircase, +helping him to dismount. + +He led the sultan into the princess's apartment. The happy father +embraced her with tears of joy; and the princess, on her side, +afforded similar testimonies of her extreme pleasure. After a short +interval, devoted to mutual explanations of all that had happened, the +sultan restored Aladdin to his favor, and expressed his regret for the +apparent harshness with which he had treated him. + +"My son," said he, "be not displeased at my proceedings against you; +they arose from my paternal love, and therefore you ought to forgive +the excesses to which it hurried me." + +"Sire," replied Aladdin, "I have not the least reason to complain of +your conduct, since you did nothing but what your duty required. This +infamous magician, the basest of men, was the sole cause of my +misfortune." + +The African magician, who was thus twice foiled in his endeavor to +rain Aladdin, had a younger brother, who was as skillful a magician as +himself and exceeded him in wickedness and hatred of mankind. By +mutual agreement they communicated with each other once a year, +however widely separate might be their place of residence from each +other. The younger brother, not having received as usual his annual +communication, prepared to take a horoscope and ascertain his +brother's proceedings. He, as well as his brother, always carried a +geomantic square instrument about him; he prepared the sand,[48] cast +the points, and drew the figures. On examining the planetary crystal, +he found that his brother was no longer living, but had been poisoned; +and by another observation, that he was in the capital of the kingdom +of China; also, that the person who had poisoned him was of mean +birth, though married to a princess, a sultan's daughter. + +[Footnote 48: Reml or Raml signifies "sand prepared," or a preparation +of sand on which are marked certain figures serving for a kind of +divination, which we call Geomancy; and the Arabs and Turks _Kikmut al +Reml_. These disposed in a certain number on many unequal lines, are +described also with a pen on paper; and the person who practices +divination by this art is called _Rammal_.--D'Herbelot, art. "Raml."] + +When the magician had informed himself of his brother's fate he +resolved immediately to avenge his death, and at once departed for +China; where, after crossing plains, rivers, mountains, deserts, and a +long tract of country without delay, he arrived after incredible +fatigues. When he came to the capital of China he took a lodging at a +khan. His magic art soon revealed to him that Aladdin was the person +who had been the cause of the death of his brother. He had heard, too, +all the persons of repute in the city talking of a woman called +Fatima, who was retired from the world, and of the miracles she +wrought. As he fancied that this woman might be serviceable to him in +the project he had conceived, he made more minute inquiries, and +requested to be informed more particularly who that holy woman was, +and what sort of miracles she performed. + +"What!" said the person whom he addressed, "have you never seen or +heard of her? She is the admiration of the whole town, for her +fasting, her austerities, and her exemplary life. Except Mondays and +Fridays, she never stirs out of her little cell; and on those days on +which she comes into the town she does an infinite deal of good; for +there is not a person who is diseased but she puts her hand on him and +cures him." + +Having ascertained the place where the hermitage of this holy woman +was, the magician went at night, and plunged a poniard into her +heart--killed this good woman. In the morning he dyed his face of the +same hue as hers, and arraying himself in her garb, taking her veil, +the large necklace she wore round her waist, and her stick, went +straight to the palace of Aladdin. + +As soon as the people saw the holy woman, as they imagined him to be, +they presently gathered about him in a great crowd. Some begged his +blessing, others kissed his hand, and others, more reserved, kissed +only the hem of his garment; while others, suffering from disease, +stooped for him to lay his hands upon them; which he did, muttering +some words in form of prayer, and, in short, counterfeiting so well +that everybody took him for the holy woman. He came at last to the +square before Aladdin's palace. The crowd and the noise were so great +that the princess, who was in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows, +heard it, and asked what was the matter. One of her women told her it +was a great crowd of people collected about the holy woman to be cured +of diseases by the imposition of her hands. + +The princess, who had long heard of this holy woman, but had never +seen her, was very desirous to have some conversation with her. The +chief officer perceiving this, told her it was an easy matter to bring +the woman to her if she desired and commanded it; and the princess +expressing her wishes, he immediately sent four slaves for the +pretended holy woman. + +As soon as the crowd saw the attendants from the palace, they made +way; and the magician, perceiving also that they were coming for him, +advanced to meet them, overjoyed to find his plot succeed so well. + +"Holy woman," said one of the slaves, "the princess wishes to see you, +and has sent us for you." + +"The princess does me too great an honor," replied the false Fatima; +"I am ready to obey her command." And at the same time he followed the +slaves to the palace. + +When the pretended Fatima had made his obeisance, the princess said, +"My good mother, I have one thing to request, which you must not +refuse me; it is, to stay with me, that you may edify me with your way +of living, and that I may learn from your good example." + +"Princess," said the counterfeit Fatima, "I beg of you not to ask what +I cannot consent to without neglecting my prayers and devotion." + +"That shall be no hindrance to you," answered the princess; "I have a +great many apartments unoccupied; you shall choose which you like +best, and have as much liberty to perform your devotions as if you +were in your own cell." + +The magician, who really desired nothing more than to introduce +himself into the palace, where it would be a much easier matter for +him to execute his designs, did not long excuse himself from accepting +the obliging offer which the princess made him. + +"Princess," said he, "whatever resolution a poor wretched woman as I +am may have made to renounce the pomp and grandeur of this world, I +dare not presume to oppose the will and commands of so pious and +charitable a princess." + +Upon this the princess, rising up, said, "Come with me. I will show +you what vacant apartments I have, that you may make choice of that +you like best." + +The magician followed the princess, and of all the apartments she +showed him, made choice of that which was the worst, saying that was +too good for him, and that he only accepted it to please her. + +Afterward the princess would have brought him back again into the +great hall to make him dine with her; but he, considering that he +should then be obliged to show his face, which he had always taken +care to conceal with Fatima's veil, and fearing that the princess +would find out that he was not Fatima, begged of her earnestly to +excuse him, telling her that he never ate anything but bread and dried +fruits, and desiring to eat that slight repast in his own apartment. + +The princess granted his request, saying, "You may be as free here, +good mother, as if you were in your own cell: I will order you a +dinner, but remember, I expect you as soon as you have finished your +repast." + +After the princess had dined, and the false Fatima had been sent for +by one of the attendants, he again waited upon her. "My good mother," +said the princess, "I am overjoyed to see so holy a woman as yourself, +who will confer a blessing upon this palace. But now I am speaking of +the palace, pray how do you like it? And before I show it all to you, +tell me first what you think of this hall." + +Upon this question, the counterfeit Fatima surveyed the hall from one +end to the other. When he had examined it well, he said to the +princess, "As far as such a solitary being as I am, who am +unacquainted with what the world calls beautiful, can judge, this hall +is truly admirable; there wants but one thing." + +"What is that, good mother?" demanded the princess; "tell me, I +conjure you. For my part, I always believed, and have heard say, it +wanted nothing; but if it does, it shall be supplied." + +"Princess," said the false Fatima, with great dis-simulation, "forgive +me the liberty I have taken; but my opinion is, if it can be of any +importance, that if a roc's egg were hung up in the middle of the +dome, this hall would have no parallel in the four quarters of the +world, and your palace would be the wonder of the universe." + +"My good mother," said the princess, "what is a roc, and where may one +get an egg?" + +"Princess," replied the pretended Fatima, "it is a bird of prodigious +size, which inhabits the summit of Mount Caucasus; the architect who +built your palace can get you one." + +After the princess had thanked the false Fatima for what she believed +her good advice, she conversed with her upon other matters; but she +could not forget the roc's egg, which she resolved to request of +Aladdin when next he should visit his apartments. He did so in the +course of that evening, and shortly after he entered, the princess +thus addressed him: "I always believed that our palace was the most +superb, magnificent, and complete in the world: but I will tell you +now what it wants, and that is a roc's egg hung up in the midst of the +dome." + +"Princess," replied Aladdin, "it is enough that you think it wants +such an ornament; you shall see by the diligence which I use in +obtaining it, that there is nothing which I would not do for your +sake." + +Aladdin left the Princess Buddir al Buddoor that moment, and went up +into the hall of four-and-twenty windows, where, pulling out of his +bosom the lamp, which after the danger he had been exposed to he +always carried about him, he rubbed it; upon which the genie +immediately appeared. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "I command thee, in the name of this lamp, +bring a roc's egg to be hung up in the middle of the dome of the hall +of the palace." + +Aladdin had no sooner pronounced these words than the hall shook as if +ready to fall; and the genie said, in a loud and terrible voice, "Is +it not enough that I and the other slaves of the lamp have done +everything for you, but you, by an unheard-of ingratitude, must +command me to bring my master, and hang him up in the midst of this +dome? This attempt deserves that you, the princess, and the palace +should be immediately reduced to ashes; but you are spared because +this request does not come from yourself. Its true author is the +brother of the African magician, your enemy whom you have destroyed. +He is now in your palace, disguised in the habit of the holy woman +Fatima, whom he has murdered; at his suggestion your wife makes this +pernicious demand. His design is to kill you; therefore take care of +yourself." After these words the genie disappeared. + +Aladdin resolved at once what to do. He returned to the princess's +apartment, and without mentioning a word of what had happened, sat +down, and complained of a great pain which had suddenly seized his +head. On hearing this, the princess told him how she had invited the +holy Fatima to stay with her, and that she was now in the palace; and +at the request of the prince, ordered her to be summoned to her at +once. + +When the pretended Fatima came, Aladdin said, "Come hither, good +mother; I am glad to see you here at so fortunate a time. I am +tormented with a violent pain in my head, and request your assistance, +and hope you will not refuse me that cure which you impart to +afflicted persons." + +So saying, he arose, but held down his head. The counterfeit Fatima +advanced toward him, with his hand all the time on a dagger concealed +in his girdle under his gown. Observing this, Aladdin snatched the +weapon from his hand, pierced him to the heart with his own dagger, +and then pushed him down on the floor. + +"My dear prince, what have you done?" cried the princess, in surprise. +"You have killed the holy woman!" + +"No, my princess," answered Aladdin, with emotion, "I have not killed +Fatima, but a villain who would have assassinated me, if I had not +prevented him. This wicked man," added he, uncovering his face, "is +the brother of the magician who attempted our ruin. He has strangled +the true Fatima, and disguised himself in her clothes with intent to +murder me." + +Aladdin then informed her how the genie had told him these facts, and +how narrowly she and the palace had escaped destruction though his +treacherous suggestion which had led to her request. + +Thus was Aladdin delivered from the persecution of the two brothers, +who were magicians. Within a few years the sultan died in a good old +age, and as he left no male children, the Princess Buddir al Buddoor +succeeded him, and she and Aladdin reigned together many years, and +left a numerous and illustrious posterity. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS KILLED BY ONE SLAVE + + +There once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named Cassim +and the other Ali Baba. Their father divided a small inheritance +equally between them. Cassim married a very rich wife, and became a +wealthy merchant. Ali Baba married a woman as poor as himself, and +lived by cutting wood, and bringing it upon three asses into the town +to sell. + +One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest and had just cut wood enough +to load his asses, he saw at a distance a great cloud of dust, which +seemed to approach him. He observed it with attention, and +distinguished soon after a body of horsemen, whom he suspected might +be robbers. He determined to leave his asses to save himself. He +climbed up a large tree, planted on a high rock, whose branches were +thick enough to conceal him, and yet enabled him to see all that +passed without being discovered. + +The troop, who were to the number of forty, all well mounted and +armed, came to the foot of the rock on which the tree stood, and there +dismounted. Every man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub, and +hung about his neck a bag of corn which they had brought behind them. +Then each of them took off his saddle-bag, which seemed to Ali Baba +from its weight to be full of gold and silver. One, whom he took to be +their captain, came under the tree in which Ali Baba was concealed; +and making his way through some shrubs, pronounced these words: +"Open, Sesame!"[49] As soon as the captain of the robbers had thus +spoken, a door opened in the rock; and after he had made all his troop +enter before him, he followed them, when the door shut again of +itself. + +[Footnote 49: "Sesame" is a small grain.] + +The robbers stayed some time within the rock, during which Ali Baba, +fearful of being caught, remained in the tree. + +At last the door opened again, and as the captain went in last, so he +came out first, and stood to see them all pass by him; when Ali Baba +heard him make the door close by pronouncing these words, "Shut, +Sesame!" Every man at once went and bridled his horse, fastened his +wallet, and mounted again. When the captain saw them all ready, he put +himself at their head, and they returned the way they had come. + +Ali Baba followed them with his eyes as far as he could see them; and +afterward stayed a considerable time before he descended. Remembering +the words the captain of the robbers used to cause the door to open +and shut, he had the curiosity to try if his pronouncing them would +have the same effect. Accordingly, he went among the shrubs, and +perceiving the door concealed behind them, stood before it, and said, +"Open, Sesame!" The door instantly flew wide open. + +Ali Baba, who expected a dark, dismal cavern, was surprised to see a +well-lighted and spacious chamber, which received the light from an +opening at the top of the rock, and in which were all sorts of +provisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade, and valuable +carpeting, piled upon one another, gold and silver ingots in great +heaps, and money in bags. The sight of all these riches made him +suppose that this cave must have been occupied for ages by robbers, +who had succeeded one another. + +Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and collected as much of the gold +coin, which was in bags, as he thought his three asses could carry. +When he had loaded them with the bags, he laid wood over them in such +a manner that they could not be seen. When he had passed in and out as +often as he wished, he stood before the door, and pronouncing the +words, "Shut, Sesame!" the door closed of itself. He then made the +best of his way to town. + +When Ali Baba got home he drove his asses into a little yard, shut the +gates very carefully, threw off the wood that covered the panniers, +carried the bags into his house, and ranged them in order before his +wife. He then emptied the bags, which raised such a great heap of gold +as dazzled his wife's eyes, and then he told her the whole adventure +from beginning to end, and, above all, recommended her to keep it +secret. + +The wife rejoiced greatly at their good fortune, and would count all +the gold piece by piece. + +"Wife," replied Ali Baba, "you do not know what you undertake, when +you pretend to count the money; you will never have done. I will dig a +hole, and bury it. There is no time to be lost." + +"You are in the right, husband," replied she, "but let us know, as +nigh as possible, how much we have. I will borrow a small measure, and +measure it, while you dig the hole." + +Away the wife ran to her brother-in-law Cassim, who lived just by, and +addressing herself to his wife, desired that she lend her a measure +for a little while. Her sister-in-law asked her whether she would have +a great or a small one. The other asked for a small one. She bade her +stay a little, and she would readily fetch one. + +The sister-in-law did so, but as she knew Ali Baba's poverty, she was +curious to know what sort of grain his wife wanted to measure, and +artfully putting some suet at the bottom of the measure, brought it to +her, with an excuse that she was sorry that she had made her stay so +long, but that she could not find it sooner. + +Ali Baba's wife went home, set the measure upon the heap of gold, +filled it, and emptied it often upon the sofa, till she had done, when +she was very well satisfied to find the number of measures amounted to +so many as they did, and went to tell her husband, who had almost +finished digging the hole. When Ali Baba was burying the gold, his +wife, to show her exactness and diligence to her sister-in-law, +carried the measure back again, but without taking notice that a piece +of gold had stuck to the bottom. + +"Sister," said she, giving it to her again, "you see that I have not +kept your measure long. I am obliged to you for it, and return it with +thanks." + +As soon as Ali Baba's wife was gone, Cassim's looked at the bottom of +the measure, and was in inexpressible surprise to find a piece of gold +sticking to it. Envy immediately possessed her breast. + +"What!" said she, "has Ali Baba gold so plentiful as to measure it? +Whence has he all this wealth?" + +Cassim, her husband, was at his counting house. When he came home his +wife said to him, "Cassim, I know you think yourself rich, but Ali +Baba is infinitely richer than you. He does not count his money, but +measures it." + +Cassim desired her to explain the riddle, which she did, by telling +him the stratagem she had used to make the discovery, and showed him +the piece of money, which was so old that they could not tell in what +prince's reign it was coined. + +Cassim, after he had married the rich widow, had never treated Ali +Baba as a brother, but neglected him; and now, instead of being +pleased, he conceived a base envy at his brother's prosperity. He +could not sleep all that night, and went to him in the morning before +sunrise. + +"Ali Baba," said he, "I am surprised at you. You pretend to be +miserably poor, and yet you measure gold. My wife found this at the +bottom of the measure you borrowed yesterday." + +By this discourse, Ali Baba perceived that Cassim and his wife, +through his own wife's folly, knew what they had so much reason to +conceal; but what was done could not be undone. Therefore, without +showing the least surprise or trouble, he confessed all, and offered +his brother part of his treasure to keep the secret. + +"I expect as much," replied Cassim haughtily; "but I must know exactly +where this treasure is, and how I may visit it myself when I choose. +Otherwise I will go and inform against you, and then you will not only +get no more, but will lose all you have, and I shall have a share for +my information." + +Ali Baba told him all he desired, even to the very words he was to use +to gain admission into the cave. + +Cassim rose the next morning long before the sun, and set out for the +forest with ten mules bearing great chests, which he designed to fill, +and followed the road which Ali Baba had pointed out to him. He was +not long before he reached the rock, and found out the place, by the +tree and other marks which his brother had given him. When he reached +the entrance of the cavern, he pronounced the words, "Open, Sesame!" +The door immediately opened, and, when he was in, closed upon him. In +examining the cave, he was in great admiration to find much more +riches than he had expected from Ali Baba's relation. He quickly laid +as many bags of gold as he could carry at the door of the cavern; but +his thoughts were so full of the great riches he should possess that +he could not think of the necessary word to make it open, but instead +of "Sesame," said, "Open, Barley!" and was much amazed to find that +the door remained fast shut. He named several sorts of grain, but +still the door would not open. + +Cassim had never expected such an incident, and was so alarmed at the +danger he was in, that the more he endeavored to remember the word +"Sesame," the more his memory was confounded, and he had as much +forgotten it as if he had never heard it mentioned. He threw down the +bags he had loaded himself with, and walked distractedly up and down +the cave, without having the least regard to the riches that were +around him. + +About noon the robbers visited their cave. At some distance they saw +Cassim's mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on their +backs. Alarmed at this, they galloped full speed to the cave. They +drove away the mules, who strayed through the forest so far that they +were soon out of sight, and went directly, with their naked sabers in +their hands, to the door, which, on their captain pronouncing the +proper words, immediately opened. + +Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses' feet, at once guessed the +arrival of the robbers, and resolved to make one effort for his life. +He rushed to the door, and no sooner saw the door open, than he ran +out and threw the leader down, but could not escape the other robbers, +who with their scimitars soon deprived him of life. + +The first care of the robbers after this was to examine the cave. They +found all the bags which Cassim had brought to the door, to be ready +to load his mules, and carried them again to their places, but they +did not miss what Ali Baba had taken away before. Then holding a +council, and deliberating upon this occurrence, they guessed that +Cassim, when he was in, could not get out again, but could not imagine +how he had learned the secret words by which alone he could enter. +They could not deny the fact of his being there; and to terrify any +person or accomplice who should attempt the same thing, they agreed to +cut Cassim's body into four quarters--to hang two on one side, and two +on the other, within the door of the cave. They had no sooner taken +this resolution than they put it in execution; and when they had +nothing more to detain them, left the place of their hoards well +closed. They mounted their horses, went to beat the roads again, and +to attack the caravans they might meet. + +In the meantime, Cassim's wife was very uneasy when night came, and +her husband was not returned. She ran to Ali Baba in great alarm, and +said, "I believe, brother-in-law, that you know Cassim is gone to the +forest, and upon what account. It is now night, and he has not +returned. I am afraid some misfortune has happened to him." + +Ali Baba told her that she need not frighten herself, for that +certainly Cassim would not think it proper to come into the town till +the night should be pretty far advanced. + +Cassim's wife, considering how much it concerned her husband to keep +the business secret, was the more easily persuaded to believe her +brother-in-law. She went home again, and waited patiently till +midnight. Then her fear redoubled, and her grief was the more sensible +because she was forced to keep it to herself. She repented of her +foolish curiosity, and cursed her desire of prying into the affairs of +her brother and sister-in-law. She spent all the night in weeping; and +as soon as it was day went to them, telling them, by her tears, the +cause of her coming. + +Ali Baba did not wait for his sister-in-law to desire him to go to see +what was become of Cassim, but departed immediately with his three +asses, begging of her first to moderate her grief. He went to the +forest, and when he came near the rock, having seen neither his +brother nor his mules on his way, was seriously alarmed at finding +some blood spilt near the door, which he took for an ill omen; but +when he had pronounced the word, and the door had opened, he was +struck with horror at the dismal sight of his brother's body. He was +not long in determining how he should pay the last dues to his +brother; but without adverting to the little fraternal affection he +had shown for him, went into the cave, to find something to enshroud +his remains. Having loaded one of his asses with them, he covered +them over with wood. The other two asses he loaded with bags of gold, +covering them with wood also as before; and then, bidding the door +shut, he came away; but was so cautious as to stop some time at the +end of the forest, that he might not go into the town before night. +When he came home he drove the two asses loaded with gold into his +little yard, and left the care of unloading them to his wife, while he +led the other to his sister-in-law's house. + +Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, a clever, +intelligent slave, who was fruitful in inventions to meet the most +difficult circumstances. When he came into the court he unloaded the +ass, and taking Morgiana aside, said to her, "You must observe an +inviolable secrecy. Your master's body is contained in these two +panniers. We must bury him as if he had died a natural death. Go now +and tell your mistress. I leave the matter to your wit and skillful +devices." + +Ali Baba helped to place the body in Cassim's house, again recommended +to Morgiana to act her part well, and then returned with his ass. + +Morgiana went out early the next morning to a druggist and asked for a +sort of lozenge which was considered efficacious in the most dangerous +disorders. The apothecary inquired who was ill. She replied, with a +sigh, her good master Cassim himself; and that he could neither eat +nor speak. + +In the evening Morgiana went to the same druggist again, and with +tears in her eyes, asked for an essence which they used to give to +sick people only when in the last extremity. + +"Alas!" said she, taking it from the apothecary, "I am afraid that +this remedy will have no better effect than the lozenges; and that I +shall lose my good master." + +On the other hand, as Ali Baba and his wife were often seen to go +between Cassim's and their own house all that day, and to seem +melancholy, nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the lamentable +shrieks and cries of Cassim's wife and Morgiana, who gave out +everywhere that her master was dead. The next morning at daybreak, +Morgiana went to an old cobbler whom she knew to be always ready at +his stall, and bidding him good morrow, put a piece of gold into his +hand, saying, "Baba Mustapha, you must bring with you your sewing +tackle, and come with me; but I must tell you, I shall blindfold you +when you come to such a place." + +Baba Mustapha seemed to hesitate a little at these words. "Oh! oh!" +replied he, "you would have me do something against my conscience, or +against my honor?" + +"God forbid," said Morgiana, putting another piece of gold into his +hand, "that I should ask anything that is contrary to your honor! Only +come along with me, and fear nothing." + +Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after she had bound his eyes +with a handkerchief at the place she had mentioned, conveyed him to +her deceased master's house, and never unloosed his eyes till he had +entered the room where she had put the corpse together. "Baba +Mustapha," said she, "you must make haste and sew the parts of this +body together; and when you have done, I will give you another piece +of gold." + +After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she blindfolded him again, +gave him the third piece of gold as she had promised, and +recommending secrecy to him, carried him back to the place where she +first bound his eyes, pulled off the bandage, and let him go home, but +watched him that he returned toward his stall, till he was quite out +of sight, for fear he should have the curiosity to return and dodge +her; she then went home. + +Morgiana, on her return, warmed some water to wash the body, and at +the same time Ali Baba perfumed it with incense, and wrapped it in the +burying clothes with the accustomed ceremonies. Not long after the +proper officer brought the bier, and when the attendants of the +mosque, whose business it was to wash the dead, offered to perform +their duty, she told them it was done already. Shortly after this the +imaun and the other ministers of the mosque arrived. Four neighbors +carried the corpse to the burying-ground, following the imaun, who +recited some prayers. Ali Baba came after with some neighbors, who +often relieved the others in carrying the bier to the burying-ground. +Morgiana, a slave to the deceased, followed in the procession, +weeping, beating her breast, and tearing her hair. Cassim's wife +stayed at home mourning, uttering lamentable cries with the women of +the neighborhood, who came, according to custom, during the funeral, +and joining their lamentations with hers filled the quarter far and +near with sounds of sorrow. + +In this manner Cassim's melancholy death was concealed and hushed up +between Ali Baba, his widow, and Morgiana his slave, with so much +contrivance that nobody in the city had the least knowledge or +suspicion of the cause of it. Three or four days after the funeral, +Ali Baba removed his few goods openly to his sister's house, in which +it was agreed that he should in future live; but the money he had +taken from the robbers he conveyed thither by night. As for Cassim's +warehouse, he intrusted it entirely to the management of his eldest +son. + +While these things were being done, the forty robbers again visited +their retreat in the forest. Great, then, was their surprise to find +Cassim's body taken away, with some of their bags of gold. "We are +certainly discovered," said the captain. "The removal of the body and +the loss of some of our money, plainly shows that the man whom we +killed had an accomplice: and for our own lives' sake we must try to +find him. What say you, my lads?" + +All the robbers unanimously approved of the captain's proposal. + +"Well," said the captain, "one of you, the boldest and most skillful +among you, must go into the town, disguised as a traveler and a +stranger, to try if he can hear any talk of the man whom we have +killed, and endeavor to find out who he was, and where he lived. This +is a matter of the first importance, and for fear of any treachery I +propose that whoever undertakes this business without success, even +though the failure arises only from an error of judgment, shall suffer +death." + +Without waiting for the sentiments of his companions, one of the +robbers started up, and said, "I submit to this condition, and think +it an honor to expose my life to serve the troop." + +After this robber had received great commendations from the captain +and his comrades, he disguised himself so that nobody would take him +for what he was; and taking his leave of the troop that night, he went +into the town just at daybreak. He walked up and down, till +accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha's stall, which was always open +before any of the shops. + +Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to work. +The robber saluted him, bidding him good morrow; and perceiving that +he was old, said, "Honest man, you begin to work very early; is it +possible that one of your age can see so well? I question, even if it +were somewhat lighter, whether you could see to stitch." + +"You do not know me," replied Baba Mustapha; "for old as I am, I have +extraordinary good eyes; and you will not doubt it when I tell you +that I sewed the body of a dead man together in a place where I had +not so much light as I have now." + +"A dead body!" exclaimed the robber, with affected amazement. + +"Yes, yes," answered Baba Mustapha. "I see you want me to speak out, +but you shall know no more." + +The robber felt sure that he had discovered what he sought. He pulled +out a piece of gold, and putting it into Baba Mustapha's hand, said to +him, "I do not want to learn your secret, though I can assure you you +might safely trust me with it. The only thing I desire of you is to +show me the house where you stitched up the dead body." + +"If I were disposed to do you that favor," replied Baba Mustapha, "I +assure you I cannot. I was taken to a certain place, whence I was led +blindfold to the house, and afterward brought back in the same manner. +You see, therefore, the impossibility of my doing what you desire." + +"Well," replied the robber, "you may, however, remember a little of +the way that you were led blindfold. Come, let me blind your eyes at +the same place. We will walk together; perhaps you may recognize some +part, and as every one should be paid for his trouble here is another +piece of gold for you; gratify me in what I ask you." So saying, he +put another piece of gold into his hand. + +The two pieces of gold were great temptations to Baba Mustapha. He +looked at them a long time in his hand, without saying a word, but at +last he pulled out his purse and put them in. + +"I cannot promise," said he to the robber, "that I can remember the +way exactly; but since you desire, I will try what I can do." + +At these words Baba Mustapha rose up, to the great joy of the robber, +and led him to the place where Morgiana had bound his eyes. + +"It was here," said Baba Mustapha, "I was blindfolded; and I turned +this way." + +The robber tied his handkerchief over his eyes, and walked by him till +he stopped directly at Cassim's house, where Ali Baba then lived. The +thief, before he pulled off the band, marked the door with a piece of +chalk, which he had ready in his hand, and then asked him if he knew +whose house that was; to which Baba Mustapha replied that as he did +not live in that neighborhood, he could not tell. + +The robber, finding that he could discover no more from Baba Mustapha, +thanked him for the trouble he had taken, and left him to go back to +his stall, while he returned to the forest, persuaded that he should +be very well received. + +A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha had parted, Morgiana went +out of Ali Baba's house upon some errand, and upon her return, seeing +the mark the robber had made, stopped to observe it. + +"What can be the meaning of this mark?" said she to herself. "Somebody +intends my master no good. However, with whatever intention it was +done, it is advisable to guard against the worst." + +Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two or three +doors on each side in the same manner, without saying a word to her +master or mistress. + +In the meantime the robber rejoined his troop in the forest, and +recounted to them his success, expatiating upon his good fortune in +meeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of what he +wanted to know. All the robbers listened to him with the utmost +satisfaction. Then the captain, after commending his diligence, +addressing himself to them all, said, "Comrades, we have no time to +lose. Let us set off well armed, without its appearing who we are; but +that we may not excite any suspicion, let only one or two go into the +town together, and join at our rendezvous, which shall be the great +square. In the meantime, our comrade who brought us the good news and +I will go and find out the house, that we may consult what had best be +done." + +This speech and plan was approved of by all, and they were soon ready. +They filed off in parties of two each, after some interval of time, +and got into the town without being in the least suspected. The +captain, and he who had visited the town in the morning as spy, came +in the last. He led the captain into the street where he had marked +Ali Baba's residence; and when they came to the first of the houses +which Morgiana had marked, he pointed it out. But the captain observed +that the next door was chalked in the same manner, and in the same +place; and showing it to his guide, asked him which house it was, +that, or the first. The guide was so confounded, that he knew not what +answer to make; but he was still more puzzled when he and the captain +saw five or six houses similarly marked. He assured the captain, with +an oath, that he had marked but one, and could not tell who had +chalked the rest, so that he could not distinguish the house which the +cobbler had stopped at. + +The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive, went +directly to their place of rendezvous, and told his troop that they +had lost their labor, and must return to their cave. He himself set +them the example, and they all returned as they had come. + +When the troop was all got together, the captain told them the reason +of their returning; and presently the conductor was declared by all +worthy of death. He condemned himself, acknowledging that he ought to +have taken better precaution, and prepared to receive the stroke from +him who was appointed to cut off his head. + +But as the safety of the troop required the discovery of the second +intruder into the cave, another of the gang, who promised himself that +he should succeed better, presented himself, and his offer being +accepted he went and corrupted Baba Mustapha as the other had done; +and being shown the house, marked it in a place more remote from +sight, with red chalk. + +Not long after, Morgiana, whose eyes nothing could escape, went out, +and seeing the red chalk, and arguing with herself as she had done +before, marked the other neighbors' houses in the same place and +manner. + +The robber, on his return to his company, valued himself much on the +precaution he had taken, which he looked upon as an infallible way of +distinguishing Ali Baba's house from the others; and the captain and +all of them thought it must succeed. They conveyed themselves into the +town with the same precaution as before; but when the robber and his +captain came to the street, they found the same difficulty; at which +the captain was enraged, and the robber in as great confusion as his +predecessor. + +Thus the captain and his troop were forced to retire a second time, +and much more dissatisfied; while the robber who had been the author +of the mistake underwent the same punishment, which he willingly +submitted to. + +The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was afraid of +diminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to get information of +the residence of their plunderer. He found by their example that their +heads were not so good as their hands on such occasions; and therefore +resolved to take upon himself the important commission. + +Accordingly, he went and addressed himself to Baba Mustapha, who did +him the same service he had done to the other robbers. He did not set +any particular mark on the house, but examined and observed it so +carefully, by passing often by it, that it was impossible for him to +mistake it. + +The captain, well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of what he +wanted to know, returned to the forest: and when he came into the +cave, where the troop waited for him, said, "Now, comrades, nothing +can prevent our full revenge, as I am certain of the house; and on my +way hither I have thought how to put it into execution, but if any one +can form a better expedient, let him communicate it." + +He then told them his contrivance; and as they approved of it, ordered +them to go into the villages about, and buy nineteen mules, with +thirty-eight large leather jars, one full of oil, and the others +empty. + +In two or three days' time the robbers had purchased the mules and +jars, and as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow for his +purpose, the captain caused them to be widened, and after having put +one of his men into each, with the weapons which he thought fit, +leaving open the seam which had been undone to leave them room to +breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with oil from the full +vessel. + +Things being thus prepared, when the nineteen mules were loaded with +thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, the captain, as +their driver, set out with them, and reached the town by the dusk of +the evening, as he had intended. He led them through the streets, till +he came to Ali Baba's, at whose door he designed to have knocked; but +was prevented by his sitting there after supper to take a little fresh +air. He stopped his mules, addressed himself to him, and said, "I have +brought some oil a great way, to sell at tomorrow's market; and it is +now so late that I do not know where to lodge. If I should not be +troublesome to you, do me the favor to let me pass the night with +you, and I shall be very much obliged by your hospitality." + +Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest, and +had heard him speak, it was impossible to know him in the disguise of +an oil merchant. He told him he should be welcome, and immediately +opened his gates for the mules to go into the yard. At the same time +he called to a slave, and ordered him, when the mules were unloaded, +to put them into the stable, and to feed them; and then went to +Morgiana, to bid her get a good supper for his guest. + +After they had finished supper, Ali Baba, charging Morgiana afresh to +take care of his guest, said to her, "To-morrow morning I design to go +to the bath before day; take care my bathing linen be ready, give them +to Abdalla (which was the slave's name), and make me some good broth +against I return." After this he went to bed. + +In the meantime the captain of the robbers went into the yard, and +took off the lid of each jar, and gave his people orders what to do. +Beginning at the first jar, and so on to the last, he said to each +man: "As soon as I throw some stones out of the chamber window where I +lie, do not fail to come out, and I will immediately join you." + +After this he returned into the house, when Morgiana, taking up a +light, conducted him to his chamber, where she left him; and he, to +avoid any suspicion, put the light out soon after, and laid himself +down in his clothes, that he might be the more ready to rise. + +Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba's orders, got his bathing linen ready, +and ordered Abdalla to set on the pot for the broth; but while she was +preparing it the lamp went out, and there was no more oil in the +house, nor any candles. What to do she did not know, for the broth +must be made. Abdalla, seeing her very uneasy, said, "do not fret and +tease yourself, but go into the yard, and take some oil out of one of +the jars." + +Morgiana thanked Abdalla for his advice, took the oil pot, and went +into the yard; when, as she came nigh the first jar, the robber within +said softly, "Is it time?" + +Though naturally much surprised at finding a man in the jar instead of +the oil she wanted, she immediately felt the importance of keeping +silence, as Ali Baba, his family, and herself were in great danger; +and collecting herself, without showing the least emotion, she +answered, "Not yet, but presently." She went quietly in this manner to +all the jars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil. + +By this means Morgiana found that her master Ali Baba had admitted +thirty-eight robbers into his house, and that this pretended oil +merchant was their captain. She made what haste she could to fill her +oil pot, and returned into the kitchen, where, as soon as she had +lighted her lamp, she took a great kettle, went again to the oil jar, +filled the kettle, set it on a large wood fire, and as soon as it +boiled, went and poured enough into every jar to stifle and destroy +the robber within. + +When this action, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was executed +without any noise, as she had projected, she returned into the kitchen +with the empty kettle; and having put out the great fire she had made +to boil the oil, and leaving just enough to make the broth, put out +the lamp also, and remained silent, resolving not to go to rest till, +through a window of the kitchen, which opened into the yard, she had +seen what might follow. + +She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up, +opened the window, and, finding no light and hearing no noise or any +one stirring in the house, gave the appointed signal, by throwing +little stones, several of which hit the jars, as he doubted not by the +sound they gave. He then listened, but not hearing or perceiving +anything whereby he could judge that his companions stirred, he began +to grow very uneasy, threw stones again a second and also a third +time, and could not comprehend the reason that none of them should +answer his signal. Much alarmed, he went softly down into the yard, +and going to the first jar, while asking the robber, whom he thought +alive, if he was in readiness, smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent +forth a steam out of the jar. Hence he knew that his plot to murder +Ali Baba and plunder his house was discovered. Examining all the jars, +one after another, he found that all his gang were dead; and, enraged +to despair at having failed in his design, he forced the lock of a +door that led from the yard to the garden, and climbing over the walls +made his escape. + +When Morgiana saw him depart, she went to bed, satisfied and pleased +to have succeeded so well in saving her master and family. + +Ali Baba rose before day, and, followed by his slave, went to the +baths, entirely ignorant of the important event which had happened at +home. + +When he returned from the baths he was very much surprised to see the +oil jars, and to learn that the merchant was not gone with the mules. +He asked Morgiana, who opened the door, the reason of it. + +"My good master," answered she, "God preserve you and all your family. +You will be better informed of what you wish to know when you have +seen what I have to show you, if you will follow me." + +As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali Baba followed her, when she +requested him to look into the first jar, and see if there was any +oil. Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back in alarm, and +cried out. + +"Do not be afraid," said Morgiana; "the man you see there can neither +do you nor anybody else any harm. He is dead." + +"Ah, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "what is it you show me? Explain +yourself." + +"I will," replied Morgiana. "Moderate your astonishment, and do not +excite the curiosity of your neighbors; for it is of great importance +to keep this affair secret. Look into all the other jars." + +Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after another; and when he +came to that which had the oil in it, found it prodigiously sunk, and +stood for some time motionless, sometimes looking at the jars and +sometimes at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great was his +surprise. + +At last, when he had recovered himself, he said, "And what is become +of the merchant?" + +"Merchant!" answered she; "he is as much one as I am. I will tell you +who he is, and what is become of him; but you had better hear the +story in your own chamber; for it is time for your health that you had +your broth after your bathing." + +Morgiana then told him all she had done, from the first observing the +mark upon the house, to the destruction of the robbers, and the flight +of their captain. + +On hearing of these brave deeds from the lips of Morgiana, Ali Baba +said to her--"God, by your means, has delivered me from the snares of +these robbers laid for my destruction. I owe, therefore, my life to +you; and, for the first token of my acknowledgment, I give you your +liberty from this moment, till I can complete your recompense as I +intend." + +Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the farther end by a +great number of large trees. Near these he and the slave Abdalla dug a +trench, long and wide enough to hold the bodies of the robbers; and as +the earth was light, they were not long in doing it. When this was +done, Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as he had no occasion for +the mules, he sent them at different times to be sold in the market by +his slave. + +While Ali Baba was taking these measures the captain of the forty +robbers returned to the forest with inconceivable mortification. He +did not stay long; the loneliness of the gloomy cavern became +frightful to him. He determined, however, to avenge the death of his +companions, and to accomplish the death of Ali Baba. For this purpose +he returned to the town, and took a lodging in a khan, disguising +himself as a merchant in silks. Under this assumed character he +gradually conveyed a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine linen to +his lodging from the cavern, but with all the necessary precautions to +conceal the place whence he brought them. In order to dispose of the +merchandise, when he had thus amassed them together, he took a +warehouse, which happened to be opposite to Cassim's, which Ali Baba's +son had occupied since the death of his uncle. + +He took the name of Cogia Houssain, and, as a newcomer, was, according +to custom, extremely civil and complaisant to all the merchants his +neighbors. Ali Baba's son was, from his vicinity, one of the first to +converse with Cogia Houssain, who strove to cultivate his friendship +more particularly. Two or three days after he was settled, Ali Baba +came to see his son, and the captain of the robbers recognized him at +once, and soon learned from his son who he was. After this he +increased his assiduities, caressed him in the most engaging manner, +made him some small presents, and often asked him to dine and sup with +him, when he treated him very handsomely. + +Ali Baba's son did not choose to lie under such obligation to Cogia +Houssain; but was so much straitened for want of room in his house +that he could not entertain him. He therefore acquainted his father, +Ali Baba, with his wish to invite him in return. + +Ali Baba with great pleasure took the treat upon himself. "Son," said +he, "to-morrow being Friday, which is a day that the shops of such +great merchants as Cogia Houssain and yourself are shut, get him to +accompany you, and as you pass by my door, call in. I will go and +order Morgiana to provide a supper." + +The next day Ali Baba's son and Cogia Houssain met by appointment, +took their walk, and as they returned, Ali Baba's son led Cogia +Houssain through the street where his father lived, and when they came +to the house, stopped and knocked at the door. + +"This, sir," said he, "is my father's house, who, from the account I +have given him of your friendship, charged me to procure him the honor +of your acquaintance; and I desire you to add this pleasure to those +for which I am already indebted to you." + +Though it was the sole aim of Cogia Houssain to introduce himself into +Ali Baba's house, that he might kill him without hazarding his own +life or making any noise, yet he excused himself, and offered to take +his leave; but a slave having opened the door, Ali Baba's son took him +obligingly by the hand, and, in a manner, forced him in. + +Ali Baba received Cogia Houssain with a smiling countenance, and in +the most obliging manner he could wish. He thanked him for all the +favors he had done his son; adding, withal, the obligation was the +greater as he was a young man, not much acquainted with the world, and +that he might contribute to his information. + +Cogia Houssain returned the compliment by assuring Ali Baba that +though his son might not have acquired the experience of older men, he +had good sense equal to the experience of many others. After a little +more conversation on different subjects, he offered again to take his +leave, when Ali Baba, stopping him, said, "Where are you going, sir, +in so much haste? I beg you will do me the honor to sup with me, +though my entertainment may not be worthy your acceptance. Such as it +is, I heartily offer it." + +"Sir," replied Cogia Houssain, "I am thoroughly persuaded of your good +will; but the truth is, I can eat no victuals that have any salt in +them; therefore judge how I should feel at your table." + +"If that is the only reason," said Ali Baba, "it ought not to deprive +me of the honor of your company; for, in the first place, there is no +salt ever put into my bread, and as to the meat we shall have +to-night, I promise you there shall be none in that. Therefore you +must do me the favor to stay. I will return immediately." + +[Illustration: _She drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand, +began a dance Page 242_] + +Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to put no salt to +the meat that was to be dressed that night; and to make quickly two or +three ragouts besides what he had ordered, but be sure to put no salt +in them. + +Morgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could not help +being surprised at his strange order. + +"Who is this strange man," said she, "who eats no salt with his meat? +Your supper will be spoiled, if I keep it back so long." + +"Do not be angry, Morgiana," replied Ali Baba. "He is an honest man, +therefore do as I bid you." + +Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a curiosity +to see this man who ate no salt. To this end, when she had finished +what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdalla to carry up the +dishes; and looking at Cogia Houssain, she knew him at first sight, +notwithstanding his disguise, to be the captain of the robbers, and +examining him very carefully, perceived that he had a dagger under his +garment. + +"I am not in the least amazed," said she to herself, "that this wicked +man, who is my master's greatest enemy, would eat no salt with him, +since he intends to assassinate him; but I will prevent him." + +Morgiana, while they were at supper, determined in her own mind to +execute one of the boldest acts ever meditated. When Abdalla came for +the dessert of fruit, and had put it with the wine and glasses before +Ali Baba, Morgiana retired, dressed herself neatly with a suitable +headdress like a dancer, girded her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, +to which there hung a poniard with a hilt and guard of the same metal, +and put a handsome mask on her face. When she had thus disguised +herself, she said to Abdalla, "Take your tabor, and let us go and +divert our master and his son's friend, as we do sometimes when he is +alone." + +Abdalla took his tabor, and played all the way into the hall before +Morgiana, who, when she came to the door, made a low obeisance by way +of asking leave to exhibit her skill, while Abdalla left off playing. + +"Come in, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Cogia Houssain see what +you can do, that he may tell us what he thinks of your performance." + +Cogia Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after supper, began +to fear he should not be able to take advantage of the opportunity he +thought he had found; but hoped, if he now missed his aim, to secure +it another time, by keeping up a friendly correspondence with the +father and son; therefore, though he could have wished Ali Baba would +have declined the dance, he pretended to be obliged to him for it, and +had the complaisance to express his satisfaction at what he saw, which +pleased his host. + +As soon as Abdalla saw that Ali Baba and Cogia Houssain had done +talking, he began to play on the tabor, and accompanied it with an +air, to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, danced in such +a manner as would have created admiration in any company. + +After she had danced several dances with much grace, she drew the +poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance in which she outdid +herself by the many different figures, light movements, and the +surprising leaps and wonderful exertions with which she accompanied +it. Sometimes she presented the poniard to one breast, sometimes to +another, and oftentimes seemed to strike her own. At last, she +snatched the tabor from Abdalla with her left hand, and holding the +dagger in her right presented the other side of the tabor, after the +manner of those who get a livelihood by dancing, and solicit the +liberality of the spectators. + +Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as did also his son; and +Cogia Houssain, seeing that she was coming to him, had pulled his +purse out of his bosom to make her a present; but while he was putting +his hand into it, Morgiana, with a courage and resolution worthy of +herself, plunged the poniard into his heart. + +Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud. + +"Unhappy woman!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have you done, to ruin me +and my family?" + +"It was to preserve, not to ruin you," answered Morgiana; "for see +here," continued she, opening the pretended Cogia Houssain's garment, +and showing the dagger, "what an enemy you had entertained! Look well +at him, and you will find him to be both the fictitious oil merchant, +and the captain of the gang of forty robbers. Remember, too, that he +would eat no salt with you; and what would you have more to persuade +you of his wicked design? Before I saw him, I suspected him as soon as +you told me you had such a guest. I knew him, and you now find that my +suspicion was not groundless." + +Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to Morgiana +for saving his life a second time, embraced her: "Morgiana," said he, +"I gave you your liberty, and then promised you that my gratitude +should not stop there, but that I would soon give you higher proofs of +its sincerity, which I now do by making you my daughter-in-law." + +Then addressing himself to his son, he said, "I believe you, son, to +be so dutiful a child, that you will not refuse Morgiana for your +wife. You see that Cogia Houssain sought your friendship with a +treacherous design to take away my life; and if he had succeeded, +there is no doubt but he would have sacrificed you also to his +revenge. Consider, that by marrying Morgiana you marry the preserver +of my family and your own." + +The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to the +marriage; not only because he would not disobey his father, but also +because it was agreeable to his inclination. After this they thought +of burying the captain of the robbers with his comrades, and did it so +privately that nobody discovered their bones till many years after, +when no one had any concern in the publication of this remarkable +history. A few days afterward, Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of his +son and Morgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the +usual dancing and spectacles; and had the satisfaction to see that his +friends and neighbors, whom he invited, had no knowledge of the true +motives of the marriage; but that those who were not unacquainted with +Morgiana's good qualities commended his generosity and goodness of +heart. Ali Baba did not visit the robber's cave for a whole year, as +he supposed the other two, whom he could get no account of, might be +alive. + +At the year's end, when he found they had not made any attempt to +disturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey. He mounted +his horse, and when he came to the cave he alighted, tied his horse to +a tree, and approaching the entrance, pronounced the words, "Open, +Sesame!" and the door opened. He entered the cavern, and by the +condition he found things in, judged that nobody had been there since +the captain had fetched the goods for his shop. From this time he +believed he was the only person in the world who had the secret of +opening the cave, and that all the treasure was at his sole disposal. +He put as much gold into his saddle-bag as his horse would carry, and +returned to town. Some years later he carried his son to the cave, and +taught him the secret, which he handed down to his posterity, who, +using their good fortune with moderation, lived in great honor and +splendor. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR [50] + + +In the reign of the same caliph, Haroun al Raschid, of whom we have +already heard, there lived at Bagdad a poor porter, called Hindbad. +One day, when the weather was excessively hot, he was employed to +carry a heavy burden from one end of the town to the other. Being much +fatigued, he took off his load, and sat upon it, near a large mansion. + +He was much pleased that he stopped at this place, for the agreeable +smell of wood of aloes and of pastils, that came from the house, +mixing with the scent of the rose water, completely perfumed and +embalmed the air. Besides, he heard from within a concert of +instrumental music, accompanied with the harmonious notes of +nightingales and other birds. This charming melody, and the smell of +several sorts of savory dishes, made the porter conclude there was a +feast, with great rejoicings within. His business seldom leading him +that way, he knew not to whom the mansion belonged; but he went to +some of the servants, whom he saw standing at the gate in magnificent +apparel, and asked the name of the proprietor. + +"How," replied one of them, "do you live in Bagdad, and know not that +this is the house of Sindbad the sailor, that famous voyager, who has +sailed round the world?" + +[Footnote 50: These voyages of Sindbad are among the most curious of +the tales contained in the Arabian Nights. They deserve a passing word +of remark. Mr. Richard Hole of Exeter, about a century since, wrote a +treatise upon them. He shows that while they must be regarded in many +respects as fabulous, yet that they illustrate the early stories +prevalent about strange countries. The earlier writers, as Plutarch, +Aelian, Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny, mention the incidents related in +these tales, as also do the earliest modern travelers, the Venetian +Marco Polo, and the English Sir John Mandeville.] + +The porter lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, loud enough to be +heard, "Almighty Creator of all things, consider the difference +between Sindbad and me! I am every day exposed to fatigues and +calamities, and can scarcely get coarse barley bread for myself and my +family, while happy Sindbad profusely expends immense riches, and +leads a life of continual pleasure. What has he done to obtain from +Thee a lot so agreeable? And what have I done to deserve one so +wretched?" + +While the porter was thus indulging his melancholy, a servant came out +of the house, and taking him by the arm, bade him follow him, for +Sindbad, his master, wanted to speak to him. + +The servant brought him into a great hall, where a number of people +sat round a table covered with all sorts of savory dishes. At the +upper end sat a comely, venerable gentleman, with a long white beard, +and behind him stood a number of officers and domestics, all ready to +attend his pleasure. This person was Sindbad. Hindbad, whose fear was +increased at the sight of so many people, and of a banquet so +sumptuous, saluted the company, trembling. Sindbad bade him draw near, +and seating him at his right hand, served him himself, and gave him +excellent wine, of which there was abundance upon the sideboard. + +Now Sindbad had himself heard the porter complain through the window, +and this it was that induced him to have him brought in. When the +repast was over, Sindbad addressed his conversation to Hindbad, and +inquired his name and employment, and said, "I wish to hear from your +own mouth what it was you lately said in the street." + +At this request, Hindbad hung down his head in confusion, and replied, +"My lord, I confess that my fatigue put me out of humor and occasioned +me to utter some indiscreet words, which I beg you to pardon." + +"Do not think I am so unjust," resumed Sindbad, "as to resent such a +complaint. But I must rectify your error concerning myself. You think, +no doubt, that I have acquired without labor and trouble the ease and +indulgence which I now enjoy. But do not mistake; I did not attain to +this happy condition without enduring for several years more trouble +of body and mind than can well be imagined. Yes, gentlemen," he added, +speaking to the whole company, "I assure you that my sufferings have +been of a nature so extraordinary as would deprive the greatest miser +of his love of riches; and as an opportunity now offers, I will, with +your leave, relate the dangers I have encountered, which I think will +not be uninteresting to you." + + +THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +My father was a wealthy merchant of much repute. He bequeathed me a +large estate, which I wasted in riotous living. I quickly perceived my +error, and that I was misspending my time, which is of all things the +most valuable. I remembered the saying of the great Solomon, which I +had frequently heard from my father, "A good name is better than +precious ointment," and again, "Wisdom is good with an inheritance." +Struck with these reflections, I resolved to walk in my father's ways, +and I entered into a contract with some merchants, and embarked with +them on board a ship we had jointly fitted out. + +We set sail, and steered our course toward the Indies, through the +Persian Gulf, which is formed by the coasts of Arabia Felix on the +right, and by those of Persia on the left. At first I was troubled +with seasickness, but speedily recovered my health, and was not +afterward subject to that complaint. + +In our voyage we touched at several islands, where we sold or +exchanged our goods. One day, while under sail, we were becalmed near +a small island, but little elevated above the level of the water, and +resembling a green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be furled, +and permitted such persons as were so inclined to land; of this number +I was one. + +But while we were enjoying ourselves in eating and drinking, and +recovering ourselves from the fatigue of the sea, the island on a +sudden trembled, and shook us terribly. + +The trembling of the island was perceived on board the ship, and we +were called upon to reembark speedily, or we should all be lost; for +what we took for an island proved to be the back[51] of a sea monster. +The nimblest got into the sloop, others betook themselves to swimming; +but as for myself, I was still upon the island when it disappeared +into the sea, and I had only time to catch hold of a piece of wood +that we had brought out of the ship to make a fire. Meanwhile the +captain, having received those on board who were in the sloop, and +taken up some of those that swam, resolved to improve the favorable +gale that had just risen, and hoisting his sails pursued his voyage, +so that it was impossible for me to recover the ship. + +[Footnote 51: Milton thus describes the Leviathan: + + "How haply slumbering on the Norway foam, + The pilot of some small night-founder'd skiff, + Deeming some island, oft as seamen tell, + With fixed anchor in his scally rind + Moors by his side."] + +Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves all the rest of the day +and the following night. By this time I found my strength gone, and +despaired of saving my life, when happily a wave threw me against an +island. The bank was high and rugged, so that I could scarcely have +got up had it not been for some roots of trees which I found within +reach. When the sun arose, though I was very feeble, both from hard +labor and want of food, I crept along to find some herbs fit to eat, +and had the good luck not only to procure some, but likewise to +discover a spring of excellent water, which contributed much to +recover me. After this I advanced farther into the island, and at last +reached a fine plain, where I perceived some horses feeding. I went +toward them, when I heard the voice of a man, who immediately +appeared, and asked me who I was. I related to him my adventure, after +which, taking me by the hand, he led me into a cave, where there were +several other people, no less amazed to see me than I was to see them. + +I partook of some provisions which they offered me. I then asked them +what they did in such a desert place; to which they answered that they +were grooms belonging to the maharaja, sovereign of the island, and +that every year they brought thither the king's horses for pasturage. +They added that they were to return home on the morrow, and had I been +one day later I must have perished, because the inhabited part of the +island was a great distance off, and it would have been impossible for +me to have got thither without a guide. + +Next morning they returned to the capital of the island, took me with +them, and presented me to the maharaja. He asked me who I was, and by +what adventure I had come into his dominions. After I had satisfied +him, he told me he was much concerned for my misfortune, and at the +same time ordered that I should want for nothing; which commands his +officers were so generous and careful as to see exactly fulfilled. + +Being a merchant, I frequented men of my own profession, and +particularly inquired for those who were strangers, that perchance I +might hear news from Bagdad, or find an opportunity to return. For the +maharaja's capital is situated on the seacoast, and has a fine harbor, +where ships arrive daily from the different quarters of the world. I +frequented also the society of the learned Indians, and took delight +to hear them converse; but withal, I took care to make my court +regularly to the maharaja, and conversed with the governors and petty +kings, his tributaries, that were about him. They put a thousand +questions respecting my country; and I, being willing to inform myself +as to their laws and customs, asked them concerning everything which I +thought worth knowing. + +There belongs to this king an island named Cassel. They assured me +that every night a noise of drums was heard there, whence the mariners +fancied that it was the residence of Gegial. I determined to visit +this wonderful place, and in my way thither saw fishes of one hundred +and two hundred cubits long, that occasion more fear than hurt; for +they are so timorous that they will fly upon the rattling of two +sticks or boards. I saw likewise other fish, about a cubit in length, +that had heads like owls. + +As I was one day at the port after my return, the ship arrived in +which I had embarked at Bussorah. I at once knew the captain, and I +went and asked him for my bales. "I am Sindbad," said I, "and those +bales marked with his name are mine." + +When the captain heard me speak thus, "Heavens!" he exclaimed, "whom +can we trust in these times! I saw Sindbad perish with my own eyes, as +did also the passengers on board, and yet you tell me you are that +Sindbad. What impudence is this! And what a false tale to tell, in +order to possess yourself of what does not belong to you!" + +"Have patience," replied I. "Do me the favor to hear what I have to +say." + +The captain was at length persuaded that I was no cheat; for there +came people from his ship who knew me, paid me great compliments, and +expressed much joy at seeing me alive. At last he recollected me +himself, and embracing me, "Heaven be praised," said he, "for your +happy escape! I cannot express the joy it affords me. There are your +goods; take and do with them as you please." + +I took out what was most valuable in my bales, and presented them to +the maharaja, who, knowing my misfortune, asked me how I came by such +rarities. I acquainted him with the circumstance of their recovery. He +was pleased at my good luck, accepted my present, and in return gave +me one much more considerable. Upon this I took leave of him, and went +aboard the same ship after I had exchanged my goods for the +commodities of that country. I carried with me wood of aloes, sandals, +camphor, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger. We passed by several +islands, and at last arrived at Bussorah, from whence I came to this +city, with the value of one hundred thousand sequins. + + * * * * * + +Sindbad stopped here, and ordered the musicians to proceed with their +concert, which the story had interrupted. When it was evening, Sindbad +sent for a purse of one hundred sequins, and giving it to the porter, +said, "Take this, Hindbad, return to your home, and come back +to-morrow to hear more of my adventures." The porter went away, +astonished at the honor done him, and the present made him. The +account of this adventure proved very agreeable to his wife and +children, who did not fail to return thanks for what Providence had +sent them by the hand of Sindbad. + +Hindbad put on his best robe next day, and returned to the bountiful +traveler, who received him with a pleasant air, and welcomed him +heartily. When all the guests had arrived, dinner was served, and +continued a long time. When it was ended, Sindbad, addressing himself +to the company, said, "Gentlemen, be pleased to listen to the +adventures of my second voyage. They deserve your attention even more +than those of the first." + +Upon which every one held his peace, and Sindbad proceeded. + + +THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days at +Bagdad, but it was not long ere I grew weary of an indolent life, and +I put to sea a second time, with merchants of known probity. We +embarked on board a good ship, and, after recommending ourselves to +God, set sail. We traded from island to island, and exchanged +commodities with great profit. One day we landed on an island covered +with several sorts of fruit trees, but we could see neither man nor +animal. We walked in the meadows, along the streams that watered them. +While some diverted themselves with gathering flowers, and others +fruits, I took my wine and provisions, and sat down near a stream +betwixt two high trees, which formed a thick shade. I made a good +meal, and afterward fell sleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but +when I awoke the ship was gone. + +In this sad condition I was ready to die with grief. I cried out in +agony, beat my head and breast, and threw myself upon the ground, +where I lay some time in despair. I upbraided myself a hundred times +for not being content with the produce of my first voyage, that might +have sufficed me all my life. But all this was in vain, and my +repentance came too late. At last I resigned myself to the will of +God. Not knowing what to do, I climbed to the top of a lofty tree, +from whence I looked about on all sides, to see if I could discover +anything that could give me hope. When I gazed toward the sea I could +see nothing but sky and water; but looking over the land, I beheld +something white; and coming down, I took what provision I had left and +went toward it, the distance being so great that I could not +distinguish what it was. + +As I approached, I thought it to be a white dome, of a prodigious +height and extent; and when I came up to it, I touched it, and found +it to be very smooth. I went round to see if it was open on any side, +but saw it was not, and that there was no climbing up to the top, as +it was so smooth. It was at least fifty paces round. + +By this time the sun was about to set, and all of a sudden the sky +became as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was +much astonished at this sudden darkness, but much more when I found it +was occasioned by a bird of a monstrous size, that came flying toward +me. I remembered that I had often heard mariners speak of a miraculous +bird called the roc,[52] and conceived that the great dome which I so +much admired must be its egg. In short, the bird alighted, and sat +over the egg. As I perceived her coming, I crept close to the egg, so +that I had before me one of the legs of the bird, which was as big as +the trunk of a tree. I tied myself strongly to it with my turban, in +hopes that the roc next morning would carry me with her out of this +desert island. After having passed the night in this condition, the +bird flew away as soon as it was daylight, and carried me so high that +I could not discern the earth; she afterward descended with so much +rapidity that I lost my senses. But when I found myself on the ground, +I speedily untied the knot, and had scarcely done so, when the roc, +having taken up a serpent of a monstrous length in her bill, flew +away. + +The spot where it left me was encompassed on all sides by mountains, +that seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep that there was no +possibility of getting out of the valley. This was a new perplexity; +so that when I compared this place with the desert island from which +the roc had brought me, I found that I had gained nothing by the +change. + +[Footnote 52: Mr. More, in his account of these voyages, says that +Marco Polo, in his _Travels_, and Father Martini, in his _History of +China_, speak of this bird, called _ruch_, and say it will take up an +elephant and a rhinoceros. It is as fabulous as the dodo, the +salamander, or the phoenix.] + +As I walked through this valley, I perceived it was strewn with +diamonds, some of which were of surprising bigness. I took pleasure in +looking upon them; but shortly I saw at a distance such objects as +greatly diminished my satisfaction, and which I could not view without +terror, namely, a great number of serpents, so monstrous that the +least of them was capable of swallowing an elephant. They retired in +the daytime to their dens, where they hid themselves from the roc, +their enemy, and came out only in the night. + +I spent the day in walking about in the valley, resting myself at +times in such places as I thought most convenient. When night came on +I went into a cave, where I thought I might repose in safety. I +secured the entrance, which was low and narrow, with a great stone, to +preserve me from the serpents; but not so far as to exclude the light. +I supped on part of my provisions, but the serpents, which began +hissing round me, put me into such extreme fear that I did not sleep. +When day appeared the serpents retired, and I came out of the cave, +trembling. I can justly say that I walked upon diamonds without +feeling any inclination to touch them. At last I sat down, and +notwithstanding my apprehensions, not having closed my eyes during the +night, fell asleep, after having eaten a little more of my provisions. +But I had scarcely shut my eyes when something that fell by me with a +great noise awakened me. This was a large piece of raw meat; and at +the same time I saw several others fall down from the rocks in +different places. + +I had always regarded as fabulous what I had heard sailors and others +relate of the valley of diamonds, and of the stratagems employed by +merchants to obtain jewels from thence; but now I found that they had +stated nothing but the truth. For the fact is, that the merchants come +to the neighborhood of this valley, when the eagles have young ones, +and throwing great joints of meat into the valley, the diamonds, upon +whose points they fall, stick to them; the eagles, which are stronger +in this country than anywhere else, pounce with great force upon those +pieces of meat, and carry them to their nests on the precipices of the +rocks to feed their young: the merchants at this time run to their +nests, disturb and drive off the eagles by their shouts, and take away +the diamonds that stick to the meat. + +I perceived in this device the means of my deliverance. + +Having collected together the largest diamonds I could find, and put +them into the leather bag in which I used to carry my provisions, I +took the largest of the pieces of meat, tied it close round me with +the cloth of my turban, and then laid myself upon the ground, with my +face downward, the bag of diamonds being made fast to my girdle. + +I had scarcely placed myself in this posture when one of the eagles, +having taken me up with the piece of meat to which I was fastened, +carried me to his nest on the top of the mountain. The merchants +immediately began their shouting to frighten the eagles; and when they +had obliged them to quit their prey, one of them came to the nest +where I was. He was much alarmed when he saw me; but recovering +himself, instead of inquiring how I came thither, began to quarrel +with me, and asked why I stole his goods. + +"You will treat me," replied I, "with more civility when you know me +better. Do not be uneasy; I have diamonds enough for you and myself, +more than all the other merchants together. Whatever they have they +owe to chance; but I selected for myself, in the bottom of the valley, +those which you see in this bag." + +I had scarcely done speaking, when the other merchants came crowding +about us, much astonished to see me; but they were much more surprised +when I told them my story. + +They conducted me to their encampment; and there, having opened my +bag, they were surprised at the largeness of my diamonds, and +confessed that they had never seen any of such size and perfection. I +prayed the merchant who owned the nest to which I had been carried +(for every merchant had his own) to take as many for his share as he +pleased. He contented himself with one, and that, too, the least of +them; and when I pressed him to take more, without fear of doing me +any injury, "No," said he, "I am very well satisfied with this, which +is valuable enough to save me the trouble of making any more voyages, +and will raise as great a fortune as I desire." + +I spent the night with the merchants, to whom I related my story a +second time, for the satisfaction of those who had not heard it. I +could not moderate my joy when I found myself delivered from the +danger I have mentioned. I thought myself in a dream, and could +scarcely believe myself out of danger. + +The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley for +several days; and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds that +had fallen to his lot, we left the place the next morning, and +traveled near high mountains, where there were serpents of a +prodigious length, which we had the good fortune to escape. We took +shipping at the first port we reached, and touched at the isle of +Roha, where the trees grow that yield camphor. This tree is so large, +and its branches so thick, that one hundred men may easily sit under +its shade. The juice, of which the camphor is made, exudes from a hole +bored in the upper part of the tree, and is received in a vessel, +where it thickens to a consistency, and becomes what we call camphor. +After the juice is thus drawn out, the tree withers and dies. + +In this island is also found the rhinoceros, an animal less than the +elephant but larger than the buffalo. It has a horn upon its nose, +about a cubit in length; this horn is solid, and cleft through the +middle. The rhinoceros fights with the elephant, runs his horn into +his belly,[53] and carries him off upon his head; but the blood and +the fat of the elephant running into his eyes and making him blind, he +falls to the ground; and then, strange to relate, the roc comes and +carries them both away in her claws, for food for her young ones. + +I pass over many other things peculiar to this island, lest I should +weary you. Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for merchandise. From +hence we went to other islands, and at last, having touched at several +trading towns of the continent, we landed at Bussorah, from whence I +proceeded to Bagdad. There I immediately gave large presents to the +poor, and lived honorably upon the vast riches I had brought, and +gained with so much fatigue. + +[Footnote 53: Captain Marryat, in his _Bushboys_, gives an account of +this contest, in which the rhinoceros came off victorious. He also +gives, in the same amusing volume, an account of a bird taking up a +serpent into the air. The scene of the adventures of the _Bushboys_ is +South Africa.] + +Thus Sindbad ended the relation of the second voyage, gave Hindbad +another hundred sequins, and invited him to come the next day to hear +the account of the third. + + +THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +I soon again grew weary of living a life of idleness, and hardening +myself against the thought of any danger, I embarked with some +merchants on another long voyage. We touched at several ports, where +we traded. One day we were overtaken by a dreadful tempest, which +drove us from our course. The storm continued several days, and +brought us before the port of an island, which the captain was very +unwilling to enter; but we were obliged to cast anchor. When we had +furled our sails the captain told us that this and some other +neighboring islands were inhabited by hairy savages, who would +speedily attack us; and though they were but dwarfs we must make no +resistance, for they were more in number than the locusts; and if we +happened to kill one, they would all fall upon us and destroy us. + +We soon found that what the captain had told us was but too true. An +innumerable multitude of frightful savages, about two feet high, +covered all over with red hair, came swimming toward us, and +encompassed our ship. They chattered as they came near, but we +understood not their language. They climbed up the sides of the ship +with such agility as surprised us. They took down our sails, cut the +cable, and hauling to the shore, made us all get out, and afterward +carried the ship into another island, from whence they had come. + +As we advanced, we perceived at a distance a vast pile of building, +and made toward it. We found it to be a palace, elegantly built, and +very lofty, with a gate of ebony of two leaves, which we opened. We +saw before us a large apartment, with a porch, having on one side a +heap of human bones, and on the other a vast number of roasting spits. +We trembled at this spectacle, and were seized with deadly +apprehension, when suddenly the gate of the apartment opened with a +loud crash, and there came out the horrible figure of a black man, as +tall as a lofty palm tree. He had but one eye, and that in the middle +of his forehead, where it blazed bright as a burning coal. His +foreteeth were very long and sharp, and stood out of his mouth, which +was as deep as that of a horse. His upper lip hung down upon his +breast. His ears resembled those of an elephant, and covered his +shoulders; and his nails were as long and crooked as the talons of the +greatest birds. At the sight of so frightful a genie we became +insensible, and lay like dead men. + +At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch looking +at us. When he had considered us well, he advanced toward us, and +laying his hand upon me, took me up by the nape of my neck, and turned +me around, as a butcher would do a sheep's head. After having examined +me, and perceiving me to be so lean that I was nothing but skin and +bone, he let me go. He took up all the rest one by one, and viewed +them in the same manner. The captain being the fattest, he held him +with one hand, as I would do a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; +he then kindled a great fire, roasted, and ate him in his apartment +for his supper. Having finished his repast, he returned to his porch, +where he lay and fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder. He slept +thus till morning. As for ourselves, it was not possible for us to +enjoy any rest, so that we passed the night in the most painful +apprehension that can be imagined. When day appeared the giant awoke, +got up, went out, and left us in the palace. + +The next night we determined to revenge ourselves on the brutish +giant, and did so in the following manner. After he had again finished +his inhuman supper on another of our seamen, he lay down on his back, +and fell asleep. As soon as we heard him snore according to his +custom, nine of the boldest among us, and myself, took each of us a +spit, and putting the points of them into the fire till they were +burning hot, we thrust them into his eye all at once, and blinded[54] +him. The pain made him break out into a frightful yell: he started up, +and stretched out his hands in order to sacrifice some of us to his +rage, but we ran to such places as he could not reach; and after +having sought for us in vain, he groped for the gate, and went out, +howling in agony. + +[Footnote 54: The youthful student will find in these references +passages which will remind in some degree of the incidents mentioned +in these tales: Homer's _Odyssey_, book iv, lines 350-410; _Iliad_, +book xx, line 220; book xiii, lines 20-35; Virgil, _Aeneid_, iii, +lines 356-542.] + +We immediately left the palace, and came to the shore, where with some +timber that lay about in great quantities, we made some rafts, each +large enough to carry three men. We waited until day to get upon them, +for we hoped if the giant did not appear by sunrise, and give over his +howling, which we still heard, that he would prove to be dead; and if +that happened to be the case, we resolved to stay on that island, and +not to risk our lives upon the rafts. But day had scarcely appeared +when we perceived our cruel enemy, with two others, almost of the +same size, leading him; and a great number more coming before him at a +quick pace. + +We did not hesitate to take to our rafts, but put to sea with all the +speed we could. The giants, who perceived this, took up great stones, +and running to the shore they entered the water up to the middle, and +threw so exactly that they sank all the rafts but that I was upon; and +all my companions, except the two with me, were drowned. We rowed with +all our might, and got out of the reach of the giants. But when we got +out to sea we were exposed to the mercy of the waves and winds, and +spent that day and the following night under the most painful +uncertainty as to our fate; but next morning we had the good fortune +to be thrown upon an island, where we landed with much joy. We found +excellent fruit, which afforded us great relief, and recruited our +strength. + +At night we went to sleep on the seashore; but were awakened by the +noise of a serpent of surprising length and thickness, whose scales +made a rustling noise as he wound himself along. It swallowed up one +of my comrades, notwithstanding his loud cries and the efforts he made +to extricate himself from it. Dashing him several times against the +ground, it crushed him, and we could hear it gnaw and tear the poor +fellow's bones, though we had fled to a considerable distance. The +following day, to our great terror, we saw the serpent again, when I +exclaimed, "O Heaven, to what dangers are we exposed! We rejoiced +yesterday at having escaped from the cruelty of a giant and the rage +of the waves; now are we fallen into another danger equally dreadful." + +As we walked about, we saw a large tall tree, upon which we designed +to pass the following night for our security; and having satisfied our +hunger with fruit, we mounted it accordingly. Shortly after, the +serpent came hissing to the foot of the tree, raised itself up against +the trunk of it, and meeting with my comrade, who sat lower than I, +swallowed him at once, and went off. + +I remained upon the tree till it was day, and then came down, more +like a dead man than one alive, expecting the same fate as had +befallen my two companions. This filled me with horror, and I advanced +some steps to throw myself into the sea; but I withstood this dictate +of despair, and submitted myself to the will of God, who disposes of +our lives at His pleasure. + +In the meantime I collected together a great quantity of small wood, +brambles, and dry thorns, and making them up into fagots, made a wide +circle with them round the tree, and also tied some of them to the +branches over my head. Having done this, when the evening came I shut +myself up within this circle, with the melancholy satisfaction that I +had neglected nothing which could preserve me from the cruel destiny +with which I was threatened. The serpent failed not to come at the +usual hour, and went round the tree, seeking for an opportunity to +devour me, but was prevented by the rampart I had made; so that he lay +till day, like a cat watching in vain for a mouse that has fortunately +reached a place of safety. When day appeared, he retired, but I dared +not leave my fort until the sun arose. + +God took compassion on my hopeless state; for just as I was going, in +a fit of desperation, to throw myself into the sea, I perceived a ship +in the distance. I called as loud as I could, and unfolding the linen +of my turban, displayed it, that they might observe me. This had the +desired effect. The crew perceived me, and the captain sent his boat +for me. As soon as I came on board, the merchants and seamen flocked +about me, to know how I came into that desert island; and after I had +related to them all that had befallen me, the oldest among them said +they had several times heard of the giants that dwelt on that island, +and that they were cannibals; and as to the serpents, they added that +there were abundant in the island; that they hid themselves by day, +and came abroad by night. After having testified their joy at my +escaping so many dangers, they brought me the best of their +provisions; and took me before the captain, who, seeing that I was in +rags, gave me one of his own suits. Looking steadfastly upon him, I +knew him to be the person who, on my second voyage, had left me in the +island where I fell asleep, and had sailed without me, or without +sending to seek for me. + +I was not surprised that he, believing me to be dead, did not +recognize me. + +"Captain," said I, "look at me, and you may know that I am Sindbad, +whom you left in that desert island." + +The captain, having considered me attentively, recognized me. + +"God be praised!" said he, embracing me; "I rejoice that fortune has +rectified my fault. There are your goods, which I always took care to +preserve." + +I took them from him, and made him my acknowledgments for his care of +them. + +We continued at sea for some time, touched at several islands, and at +last landed at that of Salabat,[55] where sandalwood is obtained, +which is much used in medicine. + +[Footnote 55: Sandalwood. The wood of a low tree, the Santalum Album, +resembling the privet, and growing on the coast of Malabar, in the +Indian Archipelago, etc. The hard yellow wood in the center of the old +sandal tree is highly esteemed for its fragrant perfume and is much +used for cabinetwork, etc.] + +From the isle of Salabat we went to another, where I furnished myself +with cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. As we sailed from this island +we saw a tortoise twenty cubits in length and breadth. We observed +also an amphibious animal like a cow, which gave milk;[56] its skin is +so hard, that they usually make bucklers of it. I saw another, which +had the shape and color of a camel.[57] + +[Footnote 56: The hippopotamus.] + +[Footnote 57: The giraffe.] + +In short, after a long voyage I arrived at Bussorah, and from thence +returned to Bagdad with so much wealth that I knew not its extent. I +gave a great deal to the poor, and bought another considerable estate. + + * * * * * + +Thus Sindbad finished the history of his third voyage. He gave another +hundred sequins to Hindbad, and invited him to dinner again the next +day, to hear + + +THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +After I had rested from the dangers of my third voyage, my passion for +trade and my love of novelty soon again prevailed. I therefore settled +my affairs, and provided a stock of goods fit for the traffic I +designed to engage in. I took the route to Persia, traveled over +several provinces, and then arrived at a port, where I embarked. On +putting out to sea, we were overtaken by such a sudden gust of wind as +obliged the captain to lower his yards, and take all other necessary +precautions to prevent the danger that threatened us. But all was in +vain; our endeavors had no effect. The sails were split in a thousand +pieces, and the ship was stranded, several of the merchants and seamen +were drowned, and the cargo was lost. + +I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and mariners, to +get upon some planks, and we were carried by the current to an island +which lay before us. There we found fruit and spring water, which +preserved our lives. We stayed all night near the place where we had +been cast ashore. + +Next morning, as soon as the sun was up, we explored the island, and +saw some houses, which we approached. As soon as we drew near we were +encompassed by a great number of negroes, who seized us, shared us +among them, and carried us to their respective habitations. + +I and five of my comrades were carried to one place; here they made us +sit down, and gave us a certain herb, which they made signs to us to +eat. My comrades, not taking notice that the blacks ate none of it +themselves, thought only of satisfying their hunger, and ate with +greediness. But I, suspecting some trick, would not so much as taste +it, which happened well for me; for in a little time after I perceived +my companions had lost their senses, and that when they spoke to me +they knew not what they said. + +The negroes fed us afterward with rice, prepared with oil of coconuts; +and my comrades, who had lost their reason, ate of it greedily. I also +partook of it, but very sparingly. They gave us that herb at first on +purpose to deprive us of our senses, that we might not be aware of the +sad destiny prepared for us; and they supplied us with rice to fatten +us; for, being cannibals, their design was to eat us as soon as we +grew fat. This accordingly happened, for they devoured my comrades, +who were not sensible of their condition; but my senses being entire, +you may easily guess that instead of growing fat, as the rest did, I +grew leaner every day. The fear of death turned all my food into +poison. I fell into a languishing distemper, which proved my safety; +for the negroes, having killed and eaten my companions, seeing me to +be withered, lean, and sick, deferred my death. + +Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was taken of +what I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to get at a +distance from the houses, and to make my escape. An old man who saw +me, and suspected my design, called to me as loud as he could to +return; but instead of obeying him, I redoubled my speed, and quickly +got out of sight. At that time there was none but the old man about +the houses, the rest being abroad, and not to return till night, which +was usual with them. Therefore, being sure that they could not arrive +in time to pursue me, I went on till night, when I stopped to rest a +little, and to eat some of the provisions I had secured; but I +speedily set forward again, and traveled seven days, avoiding those +places which seemed to be inhabited, and lived for the most part upon +coconuts, which served me both for meat and drink. On the eighth day I +came near the sea, and saw some white people, like myself, gathering +pepper, of which there was great plenty in that place. This I took to +be a good omen, and went to them without any scruple. + +The people who gathered pepper came to meet me as soon as they saw me, +and asked me in Arabic who I was and whence I came. I was overjoyed +to hear them speak in my own language, and I satisfied their curiosity +by giving them an account of my shipwreck, and how I fell into the +hands of the negroes. + +"Those negroes," replied they, "eat men; and by what miracle did you +escape their cruelty?" I related to them the circumstances I have just +mentioned, at which they were wonderfully surprised. + +I stayed with them till they had gathered their quantity of pepper, +and then sailed with them to the island from whence they had come. +They presented me to their king, who was a good prince. He had the +patience to hear the relation of my adventures, which surprised him; +and he afterward gave me clothes, and commanded care to be taken of +me. + +The island was very well peopled, plentiful in everything, and the +capital a place of great trade. This agreeable retreat was very +comfortable to me after my misfortunes, and the kindness of this +generous prince completed my satisfaction. In a word, there was not a +person more in favor with him than myself, and consequently every man +in court and city sought to oblige me; so that in a very little time I +was looked upon rather as a native than a stranger. + +I observed one thing, which to me appeared very extraordinary. All the +people, the king himself not excepted, rode their horses without +bridle or stirrups. I went one day to a workman, and gave him a model +for making the stock of a saddle. When that was done, I covered it +myself with velvet and leather, and embroidered it with gold. I +afterward went to a smith, who made me a bit, according to the pattern +I showed him, and also some stirrups. When I had all things +completed, I presented them to the king, and put them upon one of his +horses. His majesty mounted immediately, and was so pleased with them +that he testified his satisfaction by large presents. I made several +others for the ministers and principal officers of his household, +which gained me great reputation and regard. + +As I paid my court very constantly to the king, he said to me one day, +"Sindbad, I love thee. I have one thing to demand of thee, which thou +must grant. I have a mind thou shouldst marry, that so thou mayst stay +in my dominions, and think no more of thy own country." + +I durst not resist the prince's will, and he gave me one of the ladies +of his court, noble, beautiful, and rich. The ceremonies of marriage +being over, I went and dwelt with my wife, and for some time we lived +together in perfect harmony. I was not, however, satisfied with my +banishment. Therefore I designed to make my escape at the first +opportunity, and to return to Bagdad, which my present settlement, how +advantageous soever, could not make me forget. + +At this time the wife of one of my neighbors, with whom I had +contracted a very strict friendship, fell sick and died. I went to see +and comfort him in his affliction, and finding him absorbed in sorrow, +I said to him, as soon as I saw him, "God preserve you, and grant you +a long life." + +"Alas!" replied he, "how do you think I should obtain the favor you +wish me? I have not above an hour to live, for I must be buried this +day with my wife. This is a law on this island. The living husband is +interred with the dead wife, and the living wife with the dead +husband." + +While he was giving me an account of this barbarous custom, the very +relation of which chilled my blood, his kindred, friends, and +neighbors came to assist at the funeral. They dressed the corpse of +the woman in her richest apparel and all her jewels, as if it had been +her wedding day; then they placed her on an open bier, and began their +march to the place of burial. The husband walked first, next to the +dead body. They proceeded to a high mountain, and when they had +reached the place of their destination they took up a large stone +which formed the mouth of a deep pit, and let down the body with all +its apparel and jewels. Then the husband, embracing his kindred and +friends, without resistance suffered himself to be placed on another +bier, with a pot of water and seven small loaves, and was let down in +the same manner. The ceremony being over, the mouth of the pit was +again covered with the stone, and the company returned. + +I mention this ceremony the more particularly because I was in a few +weeks' time to be the principal actor on a similar occasion. Alas! my +own wife fell sick and died. I made every remonstrance I could to the +king not to expose me, a foreigner, to this inhuman law. I appealed in +vain. The king and all his court, with the most considerable persons +of the city, sought to soften my sorrow by honoring the funeral +ceremony with their presence; and at the termination of the ceremony I +was lowered into the pit with a vessel full of water, and seven +loaves. As I approached the bottom I discovered, by the aid of the +little light that came from above, the nature of this subterranean +place; it seemed an endless cavern, and might be about fifty fathoms +deep. + +I lived for some time upon my bread and water, when, one day, just as +I was on the point of exhaustion, I heard something tread, and +breathing or panting as it moved. I followed the sound. The animal +seemed to stop sometimes, but always fled and breathed hard as I +approached. I pursued it for a considerable time, till at last I +perceived a light, resembling a star; I went on, sometimes lost sight +of it, but always found it again, and at last discovered that it came +through a hole[58] in the rock, which I got through, and found myself +upon the seashore, at which I felt exceeding joy. I prostrated myself +on the shore to thank God for this mercy, and shortly afterward I +perceived a ship making for the place where I was. I made a sign with +the linen of my turban, and called to the crew as loud as I could. +They heard me, and sent a boat to bring me on board. It was fortunate +for me that these people did not inspect the place where they found +me, but without hesitation took me on board. + +[Footnote 58: "Aristomenes, the Messenian general, thus escaped from a +cave. He perceived a fox near him gnawing a dead body; with one hand +he caught it by the hind leg, and with the other held its jaws, when +it attempted to bite him. Following, as well as he could, his +struggling guide to the narrow crevice at which he entered, he there +let him go, and soon forced a passage through it to the welcome face +of day."--Hole, 141. Sancho's escape from the pit into which he +tumbled with Daffle is somewhat similar.] + +We passed by several islands, and among others that called the Isle of +Bells, about ten days' sail from Serendib with a regular wind, and six +from that of Kela, where we landed. Lead mines are found in the +island; also Indian canes, and excellent camphor. + +The King of the Isle of Kela is very rich and powerful, and the Isle +of Bells, which is about two days' journey away, is also subject to +him. The inhabitants are so barbarous that they still eat human flesh. +After we had finished our traffic in that island we put to sea again, +and touched at several other ports; at last I arrived happily at +Bagdad. Out of gratitude to God for His mercies, I contributed +liberally toward the support of several mosques and the subsistence of +the poor, and enjoyed myself with my friends in festivities and +amusements. + + * * * * * + +Here Sindbad made a new present of one hundred sequins to Hindbad, +whom he requested to return with the rest next day at the same hour, +to dine with him and hear the story of his fifth voyage. + + +THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +All the troubles and calamities I had undergone could not cure me of +my inclination to make new voyages. I therefore bought goods, departed +with them for the best seaport, and there, that I might not be obliged +to depend upon a captain, but have a ship at my own command, I +remained till one was built on purpose, at my own charge. When the +ship was ready I went on board with my goods; but not having enough to +load her, I agreed to take with me several merchants of different +nations, with their merchandise. + +We sailed with the first fair wind, and after a long navigation the +first place we touched at was a desert island, where we found the egg +of a roc, equal in size to that I formerly mentioned. There was a +young roc in it, just ready to be hatched, and its beak had begun to +break the egg. + +The merchants who landed with me broke the egg with hatchets, and +making a hole in it, pulled out the young roc piecemeal, and roasted +it. I had in vain entreated them not to meddle with the egg. + +Scarcely had they finished their repast, when there appeared in the +air, at a considerable distance, two great clouds.[59] The captain of +my ship, knowing by experience what they meant, said they were the +male and female parents of the roc, and pressed us to reembark with +all speed, to prevent the misfortune which he saw would otherwise +befall us. + +[Footnote 59: Mr. Marsden, in his notes to his translation of Marco +Polo's _Voyages_, supposes the roc to be a description of the +albatross or condor, under greatly exaggerated terms.] + +The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they redoubled +when they saw the egg broken, and their young one gone. They flew back +in the direction they had come, and disappeared for some time, while +we made all the sail we could in the endeavor to prevent that which +unhappily befell us. + +They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried between +its talons an enormous rock. When they came directly over my ship, +they hovered, and one of them let go his rock; but by the dexterity of +the steersman it missed us and fell into the sea. The other so exactly +hit the middle of the ship as to split it into pieces. The mariners +and passengers were all crushed to death or fell into the sea. I +myself was of the number of the latter; but, as I came up again, I +fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, and swimming, +sometimes with one hand and sometimes with the other, but always +holding fast the plank, the wind and the tide favoring me, I came to +an island, and got safely ashore. + +I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, after +which I went into the island to explore it. It seemed to be a +delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them bearing green +and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh pure water. I ate of the +fruits, which I found excellent; and drank of the water, which was +very light and good. + +When I was a little advanced into the island, I saw an old man, who +appeared very weak and infirm. He was sitting on the bank of a stream, +and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked like +myself. I went toward him and saluted him, but he only slightly bowed +his head. I asked him why he sat so still; but instead of answering +me, he made a sign for me to take him upon my back, and carry him over +the brook. + +I believed him really to stand in need of my assistance, took him upon +my back, and having carried him over, bade him get down, and for that +end stooped, that he might get off with ease; but instead of doing so +(which I laugh at every time I think of it), the old man, who to me +appeared quite decrepit, threw his legs nimbly about my neck. He sat +astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so tight that I thought +he would have strangled me, and I fainted away. + +Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow still kept his +seat upon my neck. When I had recovered my breath, he thrust one of +his feet against my side, and struck me so rudely with the other that +he forced me to rise up, against my will. Having arisen, he made me +carry him under the trees, and forced me now and then to stop, that he +might gather and eat fruit. He never left his seat all day; and when I +lay down to rest at night he laid himself down with me, still holding +fast about my neck. Every morning he pinched me to make me awake, and +afterward obliged me to get up and walk, and spurred me with his feet. + +One day I found several dry calabashes that had fallen from a tree. I +took a large one, and after cleaning it, pressed into it some juice of +grapes, which abounded in the island. Having filled the calabash, I +put it by in a convenient place, and going thither again some days +after, I tasted it, and found the wine so good that it gave me new +vigor, and so exhilarated my spirits that I began to sing and dance as +I carried my burden. + +The old man, perceiving the effect which this had upon me, and that I +carried him with more ease than before, made me a sign to give him +some of it. I handed him the calabash, and the liquor pleasing his +palate, he drank it off. There being a considerable quantity of it, he +soon began to sing, and to move about from side to side in his seat +upon my shoulders, and by degrees to loosen his legs from about me. +Finding that he did not press me as before, I threw him upon the +ground, where he lay without motion. I then took up a great stone and +slew him. + +I was extremely glad to be thus freed forever from this troublesome +fellow. I now walked toward the beach, where I met the crew of a ship +that had cast anchor, to take in water. They were surprised to see me, +but more so at hearing the particulars of my adventures. + +"You fell," said they, "into the hands of the old man of the sea, and +are the first who ever escaped strangling by his malicious embraces. +He never quitted those he had once made himself master of, till he had +destroyed them, and he has made this island notorious by the number of +men he has slain." + +They carried me with them to the captain, who received me with great +kindness. He put out again to sea, and after some days' sail we +arrived at the harbor of a great city, the houses of which overhung +the sea. + +One of the merchants, who had taken me into his friendship, invited me +to go along with him. He gave me a large sack, and having recommended +me to some people of the town, who used to gather coconuts, desired +them to take me with them. + +"Go," said he, "follow them, and act as you see them do; but do not +separate from them, otherwise you may endanger your life." + +Having thus spoken, he gave me provisions for the journey, and I went +with them. + +We came to a thick forest of coco palms,[60] very lofty, with trunks +so smooth that it was not possible to climb to the branches that bore +the fruit. When we entered the forest we saw a great number of apes of +several sizes, who fled as soon as they perceived us, and climbed to +the tops of the trees with amazing swiftness. + +[Footnote 60: Coco palms bear their fruit at the top.] + +The merchants with whom I was gathered stones, and threw them at the +apes on the trees. I did the same; and the apes, out of revenge, threw +coconuts at us so fast, and with such gestures, as sufficiently +testified their anger and resentment. We gathered up the coconuts, and +from time to time threw stones to provoke the apes; so that by this +stratagem we filled our bags with coconuts. I thus gradually collected +as many coconuts as produced me a considerable sum. + +Having laden our vessel with coconuts, we set sail, and passed by the +islands where pepper grows in great plenty. From thence we went to the +Isle of Comari, where the best species of wood of aloes grows. I +exchanged my coconuts in those two islands for pepper and wood of +aloes, and went with other merchants pearl fishing.[61] I hired +divers, who brought me up some that were very large and pure. I +embarked in a vessel that happily arrived at Bussorah; from thence I +returned to Bagdad, where I realized vast sums from my pepper, wood of +aloes, and pearls. I gave the tenth of my gains in alms, as I had done +upon my return from my other voyages, and rested from my fatigues. + +[Footnote 61: Marco Polo, a famous voyager (1298), gives an account of +this pearl fishery.] + + * * * * * + +Sindbad here ordered one hundred sequins to be given to Hindbad, and +requested him and the other guests to dine with him the next day, to +hear the account of his sixth voyage. + + +THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +I know, my friends, that you will wish to hear how, after having been +shipwrecked five times, and escaped so many dangers, I could resolve +again to tempt fortune, and expose myself to new hardships. I am +myself astonished at my conduct when I reflect upon it, and must +certainly have been actuated by my destiny, from which none can +escape. Be that as it may, after a year's rest I prepared for a sixth +voyage, notwithstanding the entreaties of my kindred and friends, who +did all in their power to dissuade me. + +Instead of taking my way by the Persian Gulf I traveled once more +through several provinces of Persia and the Indies, and arrived at a +seaport. Here I embarked in a ship, the captain of which was bound on +a long voyage, in which he and the pilot lost their course. Suddenly +we saw the captain quit his rudder, uttering loud lamentations. He +threw off his turban, pulled his beard, and beat his head like a +madman. We asked him the reason; and he answered that we were in the +most dangerous place in all the ocean. + +"A rapid current carries the ship along with it, and we shall all +perish in less than a quarter of an hour. Pray to God to deliver us +from this peril. We cannot escape, if He do not take pity on us." + +At these words he ordered the sails to be lowered; but all the ropes +broke, and the ship was carried by the current to the foot of an +inaccessible mountain, where she struck and went to pieces; yet in +such a manner that we saved our lives, our provisions, and the best of +our goods. + +The mountain at the foot of which we were was covered with wrecks, +with a vast number of human bones, and with an incredible quantity of +goods and riches of all kinds, These objects served only to augment +our despair. In all other places it is usual for rivers to run from +their channels into the sea; but here a river of fresh water[62] runs +from the sea into a dark cavern, whose entrance is very high and +spacious. What is most remarkable in this place is that the stones of +the mountain are of crystal, rubies, or other precious stones. Here is +also a sort of fountain of pitch or bitumen,[63] that runs into the +sea, which the fish swallow, and evacuate soon afterward, turned into +ambergris[64]; and this the waves throw up on the beach in great +quantities. Trees also grow here, most of which are of wood of +aloes,[65] equal in goodness to those of Comari. + +[Footnote 62: Mr. Ives mentions wells of fresh water under the sea in +the Persian Gulf, near the island of Barien.--Hole.] + +[Footnote 63: "Such fountains are not unfrequent in India and in +Ceylon; and the Mohammedan travelers speak of ambergris swallowed by +whales, who are made sick and regorge it."--Hole.] + +[Footnote 64: "Ambergris--a substance of animal origin, found +principally in warm climates floating on the sea, or thrown on the +coast. The best comes from Madagascar, Surinam, and Java. When it is +heated or rubbed, it exhales an agreeable odor."--Knight's _English +Cyclopaedia_, Vol. I, p. 142.] + +[Footnote 65: "Camphor is the produce of certain trees in Borneo, +Sumatra, and Japan. The camphor lies in perpendicular veins near the +center of the tree, or in its knots, and the same tree exudes a fluid +termed oil of camphor. The Venetians, and subsequently the Dutch, +monopolized the sale of camphor."--_Encyclopaedia Metropolitana_, Vol. +III, p. 195. Gibbons, in his notes to the _Decline and Fall_, says: +"From the remote islands of the Indian Ocean a large provision of +camphor had been imported, which is employed, with a mixture of wax, +to illuminate the palaces of the East."] + +To finish the description of this place, it is not possible for ships +to get off when once they approach within a certain distance. If they +be driven thither by a wind from the sea, the wind and the current +impel them; and if they come into it when a land wind blows, which +might seem to favor their getting out again, the height of the +mountain stops the wind, and occasions a calm, so that the force of +the current carries them ashore; and what completes the misfortune is, +that there is no possibility of ascending the mountain, or of escaping +by sea. + +We continued upon the shore, at the foot of the mountain, in a state +of despair, and expected death every day. On our first landing we had +divided our provisions as equally as we could, and thus every one +lived a longer or a shorter time, according to his temperance, and +the use he made of his provisions. + +[Illustration: _Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well +to the raft, I went on board with two oars I had made Page 281_] + +I survived all my companions; and when I buried the last I had so +little provisions remaining that I thought I could not long survive, +and I dug a grave, resolving to lie down in it because there was no +one left to pay me the last offices of respect. But it pleased God +once more to take compassion on me, and put it in my mind to go to the +bank of the river which ran into the great cavern. Considering its +probable course with great attention, I said to myself, "This river, +which runs thus underground, must somewhere have an issue. If I make a +raft, and leave myself to the current, it will convey me to some +inhabited country, or I shall perish. If I be drowned, I lose nothing, +but only change one kind of death for another." + +I immediately went to work upon large pieces of timber and cables, for +I had a choice of them from the wrecks, and tied them together so +strongly that I soon made a very solid raft. When I had finished, I +loaded it with some chests of rubies, emeralds, ambergris, +rock-crystal, and bales of rich stuffs. Having balanced my cargo +exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board with two +oars that I had made, and leaving it to the course of the river, +resigned myself to the will of God. + +As soon as I entered the cavern I lost all light, and the stream +carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated on in perfect darkness, +and once found the arch so low, that it very nearly touched my head, +which made me cautious afterward to avoid the like danger. All this +while I ate nothing but what was just necessary to support nature; +yet, notwithstanding my frugality, all my provisions were spent. Then +I became insensible. I cannot tell how long I continued so; but when I +revived, I was surprised to find myself on an extensive plain on the +brink of a river, where my raft was tied, amidst a great number of +negroes. + +I got up as soon as I saw them, and saluted them. They spoke to me, +but I did not understand their language. I was so transported with joy +that I knew not whether I was asleep or awake; but being persuaded +that I was not asleep, I recited the following words in Arabic aloud: +"Call upon the Almighty, He will help thee; thou needest not perplex +thyself about anything else: shut thy eyes, and while thou art asleep, +God will change thy bad fortune into good." + +One of the negroes, who understood Arabic, hearing me speak thus, came +toward me, and said, "Brother, be not surprised to see us; we are +inhabitants of this country, and water our fields from this river, +which comes out of the neighboring mountain. We saw your raft, and one +of us swam into the river, and brought it hither, where we fastened +it, as you see, until you should awake. Pray tell us your history. +Whence did you come?" + +I begged of them first to give me something to eat, and then I would +satisfy their curiosity. They gave me several sorts of food, and when +I had satisfied my hunger I related all that had befallen me, which +they listened to with attentive surprise. As soon as I had finished, +they told me, by the person who spoke Arabic and interpreted to them +what I said, that I must go along with them, and tell my story to +their king myself, it being too extraordinary to be related by any +other than the person to whom the events had happened. + +They immediately sent for a horse, and having helped me to mount, some +of them walked before to show the way, while the rest took my raft and +cargo and followed. + +We marched till we came to the capital of Serendib, for it was on that +island I had landed. The negroes presented me to their king; I +approached his throne, and saluted him as I used to do the kings of +the Indies; that is to say, I prostrated myself at his feet. The +prince ordered me to rise, received me with an obliging air, and made +me sit down near him. + +I concealed nothing from the king, but related to him all that I have +told you. At last my raft was brought in, and the bales opened in his +presence: he admired the quantity of wood of aloes and ambergris; but, +above all, the rubies and emeralds, for he had none in his treasury +that equaled them. + +Observing that he looked on my jewels with pleasure, and viewed the +most remarkable among them, one after another, I fell prostrate at his +feet, and took the liberty to say to him, "Sire, not only my person is +at your majesty's service, but the cargo of the raft, and I would beg +of you to dispose of it as your own." + +He answered me with a smile, "Sindbad, I will take nothing of yours; +far from lessening your wealth, I design to augment it, and will not +let you quit my dominions without marks of my liberality." + +He then charged one of his officers to take care of me, and ordered +people to serve me at his own expense. The officer was very faithful +in the execution of his commission, and caused all the goods to be +carried to the lodgings provided for me. + +I went every day at a set hour to make my court to the king, and spent +the rest of my time in viewing the city, and what was most worthy of +notice. + +The capital of Serendib stands at the end of a fine valley, in the +middle of the island, encompassed by high mountains. They are seen +three days' sail off at sea. Rubies and several sorts of minerals +abound. All kinds of rare plants and trees grow there, especially +cedars and coconut. There is also a pearl fishery in the mouth of its +principal river, and in some of its valleys are found diamonds. I +made, by way of devotion, a pilgrimage to the place where Adam was +confined after his banishment from Paradise, and had the curiosity to +go to the top of the mountain. + +When I returned to the city I prayed the king to allow me to return to +my own country, and he granted me permission in the most obliging and +honorable manner. He would force a rich present upon me; and at the +same time he charged me with a letter for the Commander of the +Faithful, our sovereign, saying to me, "I pray you give this present +from me, and this letter, to the Caliph Haroun al Raschid, and assure +him of my friendship." + +The letter from the King of Serendib was written on the skin of a +certain animal of great value, very scarce, and of a yellowish color. +The characters of this letter were of azure, and the contents as +follows: + + "The King of the Indies, before whom march one hundred + elephants, who lives in a palace that shines with one + hundred thousand rubies, and who has in his treasury twenty + thousand crowns enriched with diamonds, to Caliph Haroun al + Raschid. + + "Though the present we send you be inconsiderable, receive + it, however, as a brother and a friend, in consideration of + the hearty friendship which we bear for you, and of which we + are willing to give you proof. We desire the same part in + your friendship, considering that we believe it to be our + merit, as we are both kings. We send you this letter as from + one brother to another. Farewell." + + * * * * * + +The present consisted (1) of one single ruby made into a cup, about +half a foot high, an inch thick, and filled with round pearls of half +a dram each. (2) The skin of a serpent, whose scales were as bright as +an ordinary piece of gold, and had the virtue to preserve from +sickness those who lay upon it.[66] (3) Fifty thousand drams of the +best wood of aloes, with thirty grains of camphor as big as +pistachios. And (4) a female slave of great beauty, whose robe was +covered with jewels. + +[Footnote 66: "There is a snake in Bengal whose skin is esteemed a +cure for external pains by applying it to the part affected."--Hole.] + +The ship set sail, and after a very successful navigation we landed at +Bussorah, and from thence I went to the city of Bagdad, where the +first thing I did was to acquit myself of my commission. + +I took the King of Serendib's letter, and went to present myself at +the gate of the Commander of the Faithful, and was immediately +conducted to the throne of the caliph. I made my obeisance, and +presented the letter and gift. When he had read what the King of +Serendib wrote to him, he asked me if that prince were really so rich +and potent as he represented himself in his letter. I prostrated +myself a second time, and rising again, said, "Commander of the +Faithful, I can assure your majesty he doth not exceed the truth. I +bear him witness. Nothing is more worthy of admiration than the +magnificence of his palace. When the prince appears in public,[67] he +has a throne fixed on the back of an elephant, and rides betwixt two +ranks of his ministers, favorites, and other people of his court. +Before him, upon the same elephant, an officer carries a golden +lance[68] in his hand; and behind him there is another, who stands +with a rod of gold, on the top of which is an emerald, half a foot +long and an inch thick. He is attended by a guard of one thousand men, +clad in cloth of gold and silk, and mounted on elephants richly +caparisoned. The officer who is before him on the same elephant, cries +from time to time, with a loud voice, 'Behold the great monarch, the +potent and redoubtable Sultan of the Indies, the monarch greater than +Solomon, and the powerful Maharaja.' After he has pronounced those +words, the officer behind the throne cries, in his turn, 'This +monarch, so great and so powerful, must die, must die, must die.'[69] +And the officer before replies, 'Praise alone be to Him who liveth +forever and ever.'" + +[Footnote 67: "The king is honorably distinguished by various kinds of +ornaments, such as a collar set with jewels, sapphires, emeralds, and +rubies of immense value."--Marco Polo, p. 384.] + +[Footnote 68: "Throwing the lance was a favorite pastime among the +young Arabians, and prepared them for the chase or war."--Notes to +_Vathek_, p. 295.] + +[Footnote 69: Thus the Roman slave, on the triumph of an imperator, +"Respice post te, hominem te esse memento"; or the page of Philip of +Macedonia, who was made to address him every morning, "Remember, +Philip, thou art mortal."] + +The caliph was much pleased with my account, and sent me home with a +rich present. + + * * * * * + +Here Sindbad commanded another hundred sequins to be paid to Hindbad, +and begged his return on the morrow to hear his seventh and last +voyage. + + +THE SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +On my return home from my sixth voyage I had entirely given up all +thoughts of again going to sea; for, besides that my age now required +rest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to such risks as I had +encountered, so that I thought of nothing but to pass the rest of my +days in tranquillity. One day, however, an officer of the caliph's +inquired for me. + +"The caliph," said he, "has sent me to tell you that he must speak +with you." + +I followed the officer to the palace, where, being presented to the +caliph, I saluted him by prostrating myself at his feet. + +"Sindbad," said he to me, "I stand in need of your service; you must +carry my answer and present to the King of Serendib." + +This command of the caliph was to me like a clap of thunder. +"Commander of the Faithful," I replied, "I am ready to do whatever +your majesty shall think fit to command; but I beseech you most humbly +to consider what I have undergone. I have also made a vow never to +leave Bagdad." + +Perceiving that the caliph insisted upon my compliance, I submitted, +and told him that I was willing to obey. He was very well pleased, and +ordered me one thousand sequins for the expenses of my journey. + +I prepared for my departure in a few days. As soon as the caliph's +letter and present were delivered to me, I went to Bussorah, where I +embarked, and had a very prosperous voyage. Having arrived at the Isle +of Serendib, I was conducted to the palace with much pomp, when I +prostrated myself on the ground before the king. + +"Sindbad," said the king, "you are welcome. I have many times thought +of you; I bless the day on which I see you once more." + +I made my compliments to him, and thanked him for his kindness, and +delivered the gifts from my august master. + +The caliph's letter was as follows: + + "Greeting, in the name of the Sovereign Guide of the Right + Way, from the servant of God, Haroun al Raschid, whom God + hath set in the place of vice-regent to His Prophet, after + his ancestors of happy memory, to the potent and esteemed + Raja of Serendib. + + "We received your letter with joy, and send you this from + our imperial residence, the garden of superior wits. We + hope, when you look upon it, you will perceive our good + intention, and be pleased with it. Farewell." + +The caliph's present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, valued at +one thousand sequins; fifty robes of rich stuff, a hundred of white +cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria; a vessel of agate, +more broad than deep, an inch thick, and half a foot wide, the bottom +of which represented in bas-relief a man with one knee on the ground, +who held a bow and an arrow, ready to discharge at a lion. He sent him +also a rich tablet, which, according to tradition, belonged to the +great Solomon. + +The King of Serendib was highly gratified at the caliph's +acknowledgment of his friendship. A little time after this audience I +solicited leave to depart, and with much difficulty obtained it. The +king, when he dismissed me, made me a very considerable present. I +embarked immediately to return to Bagdad, but had not the good fortune +to arrive there so speedily as I had hoped. God ordered it otherwise. + +Three or four days after my departure we were attacked by pirates, who +easily seized upon our ship because it was not a vessel of war. Some +of the crew offered resistance, which cost them their lives. But for +myself and the rest, who were not so imprudent, the pirates saved us, +and carried us into a remote island, where they sold us. + +I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as he bought +me, took me to his house, treated me well, and clad me handsomely as a +slave. Some days after, he asked me if I understood any trade. I +answered that I was no mechanic, but a merchant, and that the pirates +who sold me had robbed me of all I possessed. + +"Tell me," replied he, "can you shoot with a bow?" + +I answered, that the bow was one of my exercises[70] in my youth. He +gave me a bow and arrows, and taking me behind him on an elephant, +carried me to a thick forest some leagues from the town. We penetrated +a great way into the wood, and when he thought fit to stop, he bade me +alight; then showing me a great tree, "Climb up that," said he, "and +shoot at the elephants as you see them pass by, for there is a +prodigious number of them in this forest, and if any of them fall come +and give me notice." Having spoken thus, he left me victuals, and +returned to the town, and I continued upon the tree all night. + +[Footnote 70: "The use of a bow was a constituent part of an Eastern +education."--Notes to _Vathek_, p. 301. See the account of Cyrus's +education--Xenophon's _Cyclopaedia._] + +I saw no elephant during the night, but next morning, at break of day, +I perceived a great number. I shot several arrows among them; and at +last one of the elephants fell, when the rest retired immediately, and +left me at liberty to go and acquaint my patron with my success. When +I had informed him, he commended my dexterity, and caressed me highly. +We went afterward together to the forest, where we dug a hole for the +elephant, my patron designing to return when it was rotten, and take +his teeth to trade with. + +I continued this employment for two months. One morning, as I looked +for the elephants, I perceived with extreme amazement that, instead of +passing by me across the forest as usual, they stopped, and came to me +with a horrible noise, and in such numbers that the plain was covered +and shook under them. They surrounded the tree in which I was +concealed, with their trunks uplifted, and all fixed their eyes upon +me. At this alarming spectacle I continued immovable, and was so much +terrified that my bow and arrows fell out of my hand. + +My fears were not without cause; for after the elephants had stared +upon me some time, one of the largest of them put his trunk round the +foot of the tree, plucked it up, and threw it on the ground. I fell +with the tree, and the elephant, taking me up with his trunk, laid me +on his back, where I sat more like one dead than alive, with my +quiver on my shoulder. He put himself at the head of the rest, who +followed him in line one after the other, carried me a considerable +way, then laid me down on the ground, and retired with all his +companions. After having lain some time, and seeing the elephants +gone, I got up, and found I was upon a long and broad hill, almost +covered with the bones and teeth of elephants. I doubted not but that +this was the burial place of the elephants, and that they carried me +thither on purpose to tell me that I should forbear to kill them, as +now I knew where to get their teeth without inflicting injury on them. +I did not stay on the hill, but turned toward the city; and after +having traveled a day and a night, I came to my patron. + +As soon as my patron saw me, "Ah, poor Sindbad," exclaimed he, "I was +in great trouble to know what was become of you. I have been to the +forest, where I found a tree newly pulled up, and your bow and arrows +on the ground, and I despaired of ever seeing you more. Pray tell me +what befell you." + +I satisfied his curiosity, and we both of us set out next morning to +the hill. We loaded the elephant which had carried us with as many +teeth as he could bear; and when we were returned, my master thus +addressed me: "Hear now what I shall tell you. The elephants of our +forest have every year killed us a great many slaves, whom we sent to +seek ivory. For all the cautions we could give them, these crafty +animals destroyed them one time or other. God has delivered you from +their fury, and has bestowed that favor upon you only. It is a sign +that He loves you, and has some use for your service in the world. You +have procured me incredible wealth; and now our whole city is +enriched by your means, without any more exposing the lives of our +slaves. After such a discovery, I can treat you no more as a slave, +but as a brother. God bless you with all happiness and prosperity. I +henceforth give you your liberty; I will also give you riches." + +To this I replied, "Master, God preserve you. I desire no other reward +for the service I had the good fortune to do to you and your city, but +leave to return to my own country." + +"Very well," said he, "the monsoon[71] will in a little time bring +ships for ivory. I will then send you home." + +[Footnote 71: Periodical winds blowing six months from the same +quarter or point of the compass, then changing, and blowing the same +time from the opposite quarter.] + +I stayed with him while waiting for the monsoon; and during that time +we made so many journeys to the hill that we filled all our warehouses +with ivory. The other merchants who traded in it did the same; for my +master made them partakers of his good fortune. + +The ships arrived at last, and my master himself having made choice of +the ship wherein I was to embark, loaded half of it with ivory on my +account, laid in provisions in abundance for my passage, and besides +obliged me to accept a present of some curiosities of the country of +great value. After I had returned him a thousand thanks for all his +favors, I went aboard. + +We stopped at some islands to take in fresh provisions. Our vessel +being come to a port on the mainland in the Indies, we touched there, +and not being willing to venture by sea to Bussorah, I landed my +portion of the ivory, resolving to proceed on my journey by land. I +realized vast sums by my ivory, bought several rarities, which I +intended for presents, and when my equipage was ready, set out in +company with a large caravan of merchants. I was a long time on the +journey, and suffered much, but was happy in thinking that I had +nothing to fear from the seas, from pirates, from serpents, or from +the other perils to which I had been exposed. + +I at last arrived safe at Bagdad, and immediately waited upon the +caliph, to give him an account of my embassy. He loaded me with honors +and rich presents, and I have ever since devoted myself to my family, +kindred, and friends. + + * * * * * + +Sindbad here finished the relation of his seventh and last voyage, and +then addressing himself to Hindbad, "Well, friend," said he, "did you +ever hear of any person that suffered so much as I have done? Is it +not reasonable that, after all this, I should enjoy a quiet and +pleasant life?" + +As he said these words, Hindbad kissed his hand, and said, "Sir, my +afflictions are not to be compared with yours. You not only deserve a +quiet life but are worthy of all the riches you possess, since you +make so good a use of them. May you live happily for a long time." + +Sindbad ordered him to be paid another hundred sequins, and told him +to give up carrying burdens as a porter, and to eat henceforth at his +table, for he wished that he should all his life have reason to +remember that he henceforth had a friend in Sindbad the sailor. + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Arabian Nights Entertainments, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS *** + +***** This file should be named 19860.txt or 19860.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/8/6/19860/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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